Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Juncus xiphioides is a species of rush known by the common name irisleaf rush. It is native to the southwestern United States and Baja California where it grows in wet areas in many habitat types. This is a rhizomatous perennial herb producing erect stems to a maximum height between about 40 and 80 centimeters. It has wide leaf blades for a rush, often exceeding one centimeter in width at the base. The few straw-colored leaves reach up to 40 centimeters in length. The large flower cluster has many clusters of up to 70 flowers each. The flower has very narrow green, red, or yellow-brown, lance-shaped petals and six stamens with very small anthers. The fruit is a brown oblong capsule.

Plant type

Grass

Size

1 - 3 ft Tall
1 - 6 ft Wide

Form

Mounding, Spreading

Growth rate

Fast

Dormancy

Evergreen

Calscape icon
Color

Brown, Yellow, Red

Flowering season

Spring, Summer

Special uses

Water features or wet habitats

Sun

Partial Shade

Water

Moderate, High

Summer irrigation

Keep moist

Ease of care

Easy

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to 10 - 20° F

Soil drainage

Fast, Medium, Slow

Soil description

Adaptable.
Soil PH: 5 - 7

Site type

Wet places, meadows, creeks

Plant communities

Chaparral, Foothill Woodland, Lodgepole Forest, Red Fir Forest, Valley Grassland, Yellow Pine Forest, Wetland-Riparian

Bats
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 5 likely

Confirmed Likely

Mottled Marble

Bactra furfurana

Javelin Moth

Bactra verutana

Thopeutis forbesellus