Stem

  • To 5 ft. tall flower stalks
Photo of flowering rush stem
 

Leaves

  • Thin, lance-shaped, triangular in cross-section, up to 40 in. long, may twist towards the leaf tip
Photo of flowering rush rhizomes
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
Photo of pink flowering rush flower
 

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
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 plant with 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
Peer Review Logo
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

Extension Associated Contacts

Heidi Kratsch
Heidi Kratsch
 

Also of Interest:

 
Photo of rush skeletonweed
Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Rush skeletonweed
Rush skeletonweed is a noxious weed that has been identified by the state of Nevada to be harmful to agriculture, the general public, or the environment. Learn more about this weed.
 Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., Moe, A., Schultz, B. 2020, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide
 

Associated Programs

Garden plant and pest sprayers image by Olga Seifutdinova from Getty Images

Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management is a strategy that reduces pests to tolerable levels with lower costs for the pest manager or home gardener and minimal effect on the environment. The IPM program at the University of Nevada, Reno focuses on identification and public education with resources for the community including classes, Spanish language web pages and a UNR pest directory.

Master Gardeners at tabling event

Master Gardeners of Nevada

Program trains local gardeners to provide research-based horticulture information to Nevadans.

Weed Warriors Invasive Weed Training cb

Weed Warriors Invasive Weed Training

The Nevada Noxious Weed Education Program, Weed Warriors program tackles the growing problem of spreading noxious and nuisance weeds on public and private land.