Juncus effusus ssp. pacificus 'Quartz Creek' (Quartz Creek Soft Rush) - An evergreen rush that has dark green, long erect grass-like rounded stems that grow to 18 to 30 inches tall and spreads eventually forming dense colonies, though the rate of growth is so slow that it can almost be considered a clump forming plant. In summer months the stems hold the inconspicuous reddish-brown flower clusters that emerge from below the leaf tips.
Plant in sun or part shade in a wide range of soils from fairly dry to moist and tolerant even of heavy clay soil and hardy to 0 degrees F. This is great as a garden plant, as a mass planting, accent or as an attractive specimen in a large container. Quite useful for combining with grasses and forbs to give a meadow-like feel to an area in the garden and should the planting get unruly, the clumps can be renewed by cutting back hard in spring. This selection of Juncus effusus ssp. pacificus was made by Dave Fross of Native Sons Nursery from Southern Oregon near the California border. The name for the genus comes from the Latin word 'iuncus' which was the ancient word for Rushes and came from the word 'iungere' meaning "to join" and was in reference to the use of Rushes for cordage and tying. The German botanist Ernest Heinrich Friedrich Meyer described this plant in 1823 with the specific epithet coming from the Latin word 'effusus' meaning "loosely spreading" or "spread out" due to the spreading nature of this species. We grew this nice plant from 1994 until 2014.
The information about Juncus effusus ssp. pacificus 'Quartz Creek' displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |