Clicking on the photos will enlarge them :)

Friday, February 20, 2009

Different Plants

Juncas effusus "Spiralis" or Corkscrew Rush (Click to enlarge)
Easily grown in wet soils or standing water in full sun. Tolerates light shade.
Once established will slowly spread by creeping roots. (I keep mine confined in a container without drainage holes, looks like it needs a bigger one)
Zones 4-9
Height 1' to 1.5'
To some spiral type rushes are unique and interesting foliage plants whose corkscrew like foliage provides texture and contrast to gardens---to others, it's a little more than a tangled weed.


Equisetum hyemale or Horsetail, Scouring Rush
are remnants of a genus that once included species the size of trees.
Height 1/2 to 5'
Spreading Evergreen
Color - black, dark green, green, yellow green to gold
Tolerates heat and humidity
Zones 7 - 10
Part Sun - Full Sun
Water - Normal to Boggy


Again I have this one confined as well.
Very hard to get rid of if planted in the ground. Primitive vascular plants that reproduce by means of spores, also spread via creeping rhizomes with roots that can grow to a depth of 6 foot!

Both of these would be great in water gardens or boggy areas. I keep mine filled with water.
NOTE: Some say it is poisonous to livestock.

28 comments:

Q said...

Dear Darla,
So good to meet you!
I grow a cork screw Willow that I cut to the ground every Autumn. I like the branches for decorating.
I am looking forward to reading your journal and getting to know you.
Namaste,
Sherry

DEB said...

What an interesting plant,the horse tail! Your blog is a refreshing break away from all this snow we're having up here in Canada. Thanks for sharing! Deb

Susie said...

I love Juncus especially the spiral one. It does add a unique look to a bed or pot. Maybe I need to consider that for a wet area in my yard. As far as that horsetail girl that will take over an area. We have it at the back of the nursery and it is everywhere.

joey said...

Your post makes me lonesome for my Corkscrew Rush (love 'em) that I lost this winter :( Living in zone 5, I treated it like a houseplant and would bring it in for a vacation on my sun porch ...

Unknown said...

Susie: That's why I have them in containers. They will both get aggressive.

Sugarplum Cottage said...

I use to have some of this in a pot, it died because I didn't keep it wet enough. I used it in flower arrangements. So glad it is warm there, we are having an usually cold winter. Most usually I would have already been to the nurseries and lowes searching for plants I don't have. So glad you show us different plants and their proper name. For the life of me I cannot remember those latin names. Have a good day. Hugs, Rosemarie

Dave said...

I've seen the rush in stores and it looks pretty cool, but I haven't been in a rush to get it! ;)If I ever go for a bog garden I'll be sure to put one in.

Gail said...

Darla...I do like these different plants...and might need to add them to the garden container troop! I didn't manage to keep the spiralis alive last year...but there is always this year. gail

Peggy said...

The corkscrew rush is a new one to me and very unusual. If the horsetail is any relation to one that grows here it is a thug of a plant! If it gets into a garden or plot you may as well move out and let it take over as it ruins any area it gets to root in!

Marsha said...

I grow both of these as annuals in my pond. The horsetails grow wild along the ditch banks here and the corkscrew rush I have to buy at nurseries. I wish I found a way to over winter them without taking them inside so I wouldn't have to get them each spring but they both add drama to the pond I think. Cool idea growing them in buckets and I imagine they grow year round for you.

Tootsie said...

well! thanks for the lesson! I have never grown either of these. I like the look of the cork screw one....wonder if it is available here in the COLD! lol

tina said...

I like both of these. I've only had the horsetail though. It came in some shrubs I had dug from a friend's house, and it promptly died, though the shrubs lived:)

Patsy said...

I don't even like the word aggressive-------------But very interesting.
Patsy

Shelley said...

I like the shape and texture on that corkscrew plant - (is that one poisenous too??)

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

Your corkscrew rush looks really good. What a great idea to just plant them like that. I'm afraid to put certain things in my pond because they just take over, but that's a great way to enjoy the plants still.

Dorothy said...

Hi Darla,
I really like the Corkscrew Rush! Very interesting looking!

Val said...

We used to have some cork screw willow trees. They were neat. I have never saw a plant like this.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Thanks Darla... I can learn so much from you.. I have never heard of these--but I like that Corkscrew Rush one.. WOW!!!!

Have a wonderful weekend.
Hugs,
Betsy

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Darla: I like the looks of the curly plant.

Anonymous said...

The shape and texture of that Willow is a wonderful asset to a water garden. Nice plant!

Patsy said...

You have a award come on over to get it and pass it on.
Patsy

Heidi said...

That's a very cool plant. I wonder if it is easier to find than a curly willow. It ought to make an interesting dried 'flower'.

Rosemarie said...

So pretty! I love looking at your beautiful weather, girl - and dreaming of spring ...

Gardeness said...

Love the rush. I have some out front although seemingly not in a damp area but it's doing great.

Leedra said...

The first one is so interesting looking. Bet you get all kinds of comments about it.

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Carla said...

hard to believe something so pretty could be so BAD! I love your idea to keep it in a pot. I didn't know that horsetail spread by spores also, glad mine died:)

guinea pig hutches said...

In the garden different types plant and more interesting so that can be know that and enjoy it in this plant. Mostly are visiting in the pant and enjoy it. There are different and interesting plant shared and nice garden.

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