EFFORTLESS BEAUTY OF THIS NATIVE ORNAMENTAL GRASS
FEATURES:
- Soft, chartreuse upright blades of tall meadow grass
- Provides texture within your garden beds as a bright accent
- In warmer climates, will keep its green foliage all year
- Thrives in the wet areas of your landscape
- May Benefit & Attract: Wrens, wood warblers
- The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow.
- This bird-friendly native plant provides food and shelter for local and migrating birds and other wildlife
- All Audubon® branded trees and plants are grown 100% Neonic-free by Bower & Branch, making these plants safer for the birds and safer for the environment.
- Hand Selected, Fresh from the Grower
- Ships in a plant-safe designed box
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 3-9
- Mature Height: 3-4' tall
- Mature Width: 2-3' wide
- Exposure: Full/Partial Sun
- Spacing: 2-3' apart
Why plant Audubon® Native Soft Rush?
“Sedges have edges, but rushes are round”—so goes the saying that helps students distinguish between these two grass-like plants. Soft Rush is easily identified by its slim, smooth, cylindrical stems, rising up from the boggy soils it inhabits. This dapper native performs valuable functions in nature as a stabilizer of mucky soil alongside lakes, ponds, and bogs, and as habitat for waterfowl and other wetland residents. Its seeds are also munched on occasionally by birds. Soft Rush is commonly used in stormwater management projects, bioswales, and rain gardens, but it can be planted in any kind of garden that doesn’t get too dry. A nice spiky element that’s actually soft to the touch.
If success for a plant is measured by how many regions it inhabits, then Soft Rush is a world champion! Adaptable and resilient, it has managed to gain a foothold just about everywhere there is soggy soil. The species is native to North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. In the U.S., it’s common east of the Mississippi River as well as on the West Coast. In the British Isles, Soft Rush was once used extensively to make rushlights, which were like cheap candles. In Japan, this plant is used to weave tatami mats, which serve as the requisite flooring in traditional homes.
How to use Audubon® Native Soft Rush in the landscape?
Try it in a container! Soft Rush can be grown in a pot to lend a spiky accent to your deck or patio. Place it in a dish of water to make irrigation easier—this plant does not need good drainage.
Audubon® Native Plants & Trees
Audubon is devoted to protecting birds and the places they need, while Bower & Branch is devoted to the growth of true native trees and plants–no cultivars or hybrids. Together, we strive to unite communities in conservation and inspire individuals to cultivate a better world for birds starting in their own backyards, balconies, or patios. By guiding and recommending trees and plants truly native and beneficial to your region, we can really start to make a difference.
What is the definition of Native?
“In the United States, a native plant is defined as one that was naturally found in a particular area before European colonization. Native plants are the foundation of a region’s biodiversity, providing essential food sources and shelter for birds, especially those threatened by the changing climate. Since native plants are adapted to local precipitation and soil conditions, they generally require less upkeep, therefore helping the environment and saving you time, water, and money.” – The National Audubon Society
Learn how you can help birds in your home and community through Audubon’s Plants for Birds program.
Audubon® is a licensed and registered trademark of the National Audubon Society. All rights reserved.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 3-9
How To Plant Audubon® Native Soft Rush
It should be clear by now that Soft Rush loves wet soil! A site at the edge of a pond is where it will be happiest and easiest to maintain. You should know that constantly wet soil is not a requirement, however. Regular garden conditions will suffice as long as the plant doesn’t have to endure any periods of prolonged dryness. In drier spots, it will not grow as tall. Plant Soft Rush in full sun in any kind of soil, including heavy clay. In mild climates, the foliage is evergreen. In colder areas, cut back the tattered foliage in early spring to make way for fresh new growth.
How To Water
Water twice weekly for the first 3-5 weeks; then water weekly for the remainder of the year until winter. When you water, water slowly and thoroughly. Watering needs may be altered due to extreme weather conditions.
How To Fertilize
Incorporate Elements Starter Plant food granular form into the soil when planting. If planting in spring or summer start fertilizing late fall using Elements Starter Plant food granular form on an annual basis each late year. Continue this for three years to get your plant well established.
How To Prune
Each fall, just before winter sets in clean up the previous years foliage and compost it. Be sure your perennials are mulched well for winter protection. Two inches of an organic mulch will do the job. Consider leaving the plant debris in place through the winter and doing your clean up on the weather warms in the spring. While it doesn't make things neat and tidy, the debris provides overwintering protection for insects, their eggs and pupae including our native Viceroy butterfly.
How Does Shipping Work?
Size Small (AAA), Medium (A2A), and Large (AA) plants (our Treelings, Shrubs, Bushes, and Perennials) will be shipped directly to your home by a common carrier. Ships in a plant-safe designed box within 5-7 business days.
Our Guarantees
90 DAY SATISFACTION GUARANTEE:
Bower & Branch guarantees customer satisfaction within all product groups and sizes. If for any reason you are not satisfied with the product or experience, you have 90 days from the original date of purchase to request a replacement of the purchased product(s).
How?
Reach out to a Plant Whisperer:
- Email: plantwhisperers@bowerandbranch.com - Phone: 866-873-3888 - Or via Online Chat
