Corkscrew Rush

Corkscrew Rush is an easy to grow ornamental rush form of Juncus effusus with interesting twisted stems. This wetland perennial grass is a rush or sedge found in bogs, marshes, and swamps and is native over large portions of temperate climates of the world.  Varieties can be found throughout the United States except for South Dakota, Wyoming, and Utah.  These plants are located in almost every county in North Carolina. 

'Sparilis' has no leaves, but the stems are attractive, corkscrews which are both upright and prostrate, cylindrical, green, and smooth.They grow into a mass to form a clump 12 - 18 inches in height and equal spread.The late summer-blooming flowers are yellowish-green to brown in many-flowered cymes with an obovoid capsule following as fruit. 

It can grow with  1 to 6 inches of water over the crown and works well in containers of 2 gallons or larger. They prefer full sun but can tolerate some shade.  They require consistently moist soil and they grow well in pots and as houseplants.  

Light: A position that offers a splash of morning or evening sun is best, especially during the autumn and winter months. Avoid more than two hours of direct sunlight a day during the summer, as this will lead to dehydration and sun-scorch. Rapid leaf loss will occur to plants that are placed in too dark locations - if it's difficult to read a book, it'll be too dark for the plant, too!

We'd recommend placing your Juncus on either a north, north-east or north-west facing windowsill, or within a metre of a south-facing window. It can also spend the summer months outdoors in a sheltered location or in a semi-shaded conservatory. This will improve its overall health by spending time in a brighter environment; as long as you bring it in before the night temperature dip below 10℃  (50℉),  no harm will be risked. 

Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist, allowing only the top inch or two to dry between waters. If you're prone to forgetfulness, we'd recommend introducing a watering-rota (i.e. every five days or so). Under-watering symptoms include stunted growth, crispy patches forming on its leaves and yellowing leaves. Over-watering symptoms include mouldy soil, stunted growth, brown mushy patches developing in the stems and root/basal rot. 

This plant is classified as poisonous, so if small sections are eaten, vomiting, nausea, and a loss of appetite may occur. Consumption of large quantities must be dealt with quickly; acquire medical assistance for further information.