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Path Rush
Juncus tenuis

Tufted, clumped, native, perennial grass-like herb/rush that is a cool-season plant. Path rush is well-suited for droughty, compacted, disturbed sites, such as trails and edges of restorations of prairies and wetlands. It is excellent for making a seamless prairie garden and can be used in rain gardens. This species is easy to grow and forms short, attractive clumps. Spreads slowly.

USDA symbol: JUTE

General Information

Plant TypeGrass
Height1 foot
Light ExposureSun
Soil MoistureMedium
Bloom ColorWhite, Green, Brown
Path Rush (Path Rush<div><em class="small">Juncus tenuis</em></div>)
Photo credit: United States Department of Agriculture (Click to enlarge)

Tolerances

Flooding / Inundation ToleranceModerate
General Resilience9
Salt ToleranceLow
Stress ToleranceFire Tolerant, General Disturbance, High Iron

Pollinator Value: Low

Bloom MonthsJune to August

Project Planning

Project TypeBoulevard, Erosion Control, Rain Garden, Restoration, Shoreline Buffer
Coefficient of Conservatism2
Herbivore SensitivityLow
LifespanPerennial
Rate of SpreadSlow
Soil StabilizationShallow
Vegetative ReproductionClonal

Range

CountyAitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Blue Earth, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Nicollet, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Ramsey, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Swift, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright
EcoregionDriftless Area, Lake Agassiz Plain, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Glaciated Plains, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, Western Cornbelt Plains
Approximate Eco ProvinceEastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland, Tallgrass Aspen Parklands