Stem
- To 5 ft. tall flower stalks
Leaves
- Thin, lance-shaped, triangular in cross-section, up to 40 in. long, may twist towards the leaf tip
Photo of flowering rush rhizomes
Flower
- Flowers grow at the end of tall, cylindrical stalks in umbrella-shaped clusters of 20 to 50 flowers; individual flowers have 3 large pink petals and 3 small pink sepals under the flower that look like flower petals, 9 stamens and 6 pink pistils
Root
- Fleshy rhizomes that grow trailing below the ground; bulbils (bulb-like plant sprouts) form at base of flower stalks and roots
Photo of flowering rush rhizomes
Other
- Grows along lake shores, slow-moving rivers and streams, irrigation ditches and wetlands; no known occurrences in Nevada
- Perennial, spreads by rhizomes, bulbils and seed
- Grows upright in shallow water and submerged in deeper water up to 9 ft. deep
- Although it resembles a true rush, flowering rush is in its own family and can be distinguished by its pink flowers
Photo of flowering rush flowers
Control
- Carefully dig up plants, removing all rhizomes and bulbils
- Mid-summer applications of imazamox or imazapyr under calm wind conditions have been reported to be effective; repeat treatment may be required
Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., Moe, A., Schultz, B.
2020,
Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Flowering rush,
Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide