Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Juncus balticus is a species of rush known by the common name Baltic rush. It is native to a large part of North and South America. In California it is very widespread and occurs in every county. It is a plant of wetlands and other mesic places, though sometimes found in non-wetland areas. It prefers freshwater but can handle some salinity. It spreads by a rhizome and will occupy any suitably moist area. It will hybridize with many other Juncus species. There is one recognized subspecies at this time, ssp. ater, which also occurs over a large part of the state.

Plant type

Grass

Size

3 ft Tall

Form

Fountain

Growth rate

Fast

Dormancy

Evergreen

Fragrance

None

Calscape icon
Color

Brown

Sun

Partial Shade

Water

Moderate, High

Summer irrigation

Keep moist

Ease of care

Moderate

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to -15° F

Soil drainage

Fast, Medium, Slow, Standing

Soil description

Tolerant of a variety of soils. Tolerates saline soil..
Soil PH: 5.0 - 8.0

Propagation

By seed or rhizome cutting

Sunset Zones

1, 2, 3, 4*, 5*, 6*, 7*, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18*, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*

Site type

Freshwater or brackish marsh in a wide variety of settings

Plant communities

Alpine Fell-Fields, Chaparral, Foothill Woodland, Lodgepole Forest, Red Fir Forest, Subalpine Forest, Valley Grassland, Yellow Pine Forest, Wetland-Riparian

Use in a bioswale or bog-type garden with other wetland plants such as Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica), Sedges (Carex spp.), Monkeyflower (Mimulus cardinalis or guttatus), Willows (Salix spp.), and Hedgenettle (Stachys spp.)

Bats
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 7 likely

Confirmed Likely

Mottled Marble

Bactra furfurana

Javelin Moth

Bactra verutana

Yellow Sedge Borer

Capsula subflava