This species is often confused with the very similar Juglans conglomeratus L.

Common Name: Soft Rush

General Information

Juncus effusus is a herbaceous perennial plant with a grass-like appearance, growing around 50 - 150cm tall. The rhizomes are very short-noded, the plant forming a dense clump of growth[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, source of materials and occasionally as a food. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental, especially a form with cork-screw or twisted stems (often known as 'Spiralis') and forms with colour-banding on the stems (known as 'Zebrinus' and 'Aureus Striatus')[].
Juncus effusus is widespread with stable populations and does not face any significant threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[].

Known Hazards

Possibly toxic to mammals[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Probably native in Europe, W. and C. Asia, Africa, N. America and mountains of S. America; cosmopolitan as introduced and in many places naturalized

Habitat

Wet pastures, bogs, damp woods etc, usually on acid soils[]. Wide range of wet sites, from meadows and pastures, ditches, ponds, shores etc. to mountain tracks and meadows, often forming dense stands that exclude other species[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.50 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in a moist soil, bog garden or shallow water[, ]. Prefers a heavy soil in sun or light shade[].

Edible Uses

Young shoots - raw[, ]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Medicinal

The pith of the stem is antiphlogistic, depurative, discutient, diuretic, febrifuge, lenitive, lithontripic, pectoral and sedative[, , , , ]. It is used in the treatment of sore throats, jaundice, oedema, acute urinary tract infection and morbid crying of babies[].

Other Uses

The stems are used in basket making, thatching, weaving mats etc[, , , , , ]. The stems can also be dried then twisted or braided into ropes for tying or binding[].

Stems can be peeled (except for a small spine which is left to keep them upright) and soaked in oil then used as a candle[, , , ].

A fibre obtained from the stems is used for making paper[]. The stems are harvested in late summer or autumn, they are split and cut into usable pieces and then soaked for 24 hours in clear water. They are then cooked for 2 hours with lye and beaten in a blender. The fibres make an off-white paper[]. When mixed with mulberry fibres they can be used for making stencil paper[].

The whole plant was formerly used as a strewing herb[, , ].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in pots in a cold frame in early spring and keep the compost moist. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer if they have grown sufficiently, otherwise in late spring of the following year.
Division in spring. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.