Grasses, Sedges & Rushes
This group of plants is seriously underrated.
Grasses, sedges, and rushes are amazing! They add year-round texture and intrigue to your landscape. Gramminoids (grass-like plants) help reduce weeds and erosion while bolstering soil health. The tiny forests they create are home to insects, ground-nesting birds, and small mammals. Many of these plants can be installed in tricky spots, like those with a lot of water, salt inundation, super sunny, or overrun with invasive species.
Remember that successful restoration projects have layers. Gramminoids can be a fantastic choice for your base level.
Species Descriptions: Gramminoids
Categories
There are three types of gramminoids: grasses, sedges, and rushes. The mnemonic "grasses have asses, sedges have edges, and rushes are round" is not 100% true, but it's a good place to start. Generally, sedges and rushes prefer wetter sites than grasses. Explore some of these superstars that call the Pacific Northwest home.
Additional Considerations
These species lists are not comprehensive of the incredible native diversity of our Pacific Northwest region. Instead, they detail the plants that we have found to have great value in restoration for their hardy characteristics and ecosystem services. For more complete databases, we recommend visiting our friends at the University of Washington Burke Herbarium or Washington Native Plant Society.
Grasses
Tufted hairgrass
Deschampsia cespitosa
Exposure: Full sun
Soil moisture: Moist to wet, can be well-drained
Salinity tolerance: Low
Fire tolerance: High
Transplanting success: High
Growth rate: Rapid
Form: Dense tufts to 5 feet, hummock forming
Tufted hairgrass is found in profusion on tidal marshes and also occurs on river bars and lakeshores. It is considered a keystone species for wet meadows. It transplants and grows well. Tolerates occasional drying and salt water and will not accept year-round flooding. Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
American dunegrass
Elymus mollis (Leymus mollis)
Exposure: Full sun
Soil moisture: Moist
Salinity tolerance: High
Fire tolerance: High
Transplanting success: High
Growth rate: Rapid
Form: Stout stems to 5 feet, from scaly rhizomes
American dunegrass is the most common grass in the nearshore and backshore environments of Puget Sound, and is widespread along the outer coast of Washington and Oregon. It occurs in broad, extensive stands on dunes and gravelly beaches, frequently comprising the dominant vegetation bewteen beaches and inland areas. This species forms the cornerstone for many beach revegetation plantings, and is essential for controlling beach erosion. Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Roemer's fescue
Festuca roemeri
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Soil moisture: Moist to dry
Salinity tolerance: None
Fire tolerance: Medium
Transplanting success: High
Growth rate: Rapid
Form: Bunchgrass to 3 feet tall
A grass with bluish-green foliage that is concentrated at the base. Common in prairies and oak woodlands, this species prefers well-drained soils. Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Tall mannagrass
Glyceria elata
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Soil moisture: Moist to wet
Salinity tolerance: None
Fire tolerance: Unknown
Transplanting success: High
Growth rate: Rapid
Form: Somewhat tufted perennial, almost succulent, to 4.5 feet, with creeping rhizomes
Tall mannagrass prefers open habitat and is typically found on streamsides, wet meadows, and lakeshores. It transplants well, and grows quickly. Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Reed mannagrass
Glyceria grandis
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Soil moisture: Moist to wet
Salinity tolerance: Unknown
Fire tolerance: Unknown
Transplanting success: High
Growth rate: Rapid
Form: Tall, single stems to 6 feet arising from creeping rhizomes
One of our frequent customers calls this species a "workhorse" because it transplants and grows so well: it tolerates wide seasonal water fluctuations and is robust enough to be somewhat competitive with invasive species. We are encouraged by this endorsement to recommend it to others. It can take drier, shadier habitats than tall mannagrass. Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Sedges
Western inflated sedge
Carex exsiccata (C. vesicaria)
Exposure: Full sun
Soil moisture: Wet
Salinity tolerance: Low
Fire tolerance: High
Transplanting success: High
Growth rate: Rapid
Form: Tufts to 36 inches or sometimes spreading on short rhizomes
Found on pond and lake shores, wet meadows, and in seasonal ponds. Inflated sedge transplants well, grows vigorously, and tolerates both winter inundation and summer drying. In shallow, emergent freshwater wetlands, this species can form dense carpets that dominate the plant community. Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Yellow sedge
Carex flava
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil moisture: Medium to damp
Salinity tolerance: Unknown
Fire tolerance: Unknown
Transplanting success: High
Growth rate: Rapid
Form: Dense tufts or mats 10 to 30 inches
Found on lake and reservoir shores, yellow sedge is rare in Washington; our seed came from Baker Lake. According to the Field Guide for the Sedges of the Pacific Northwest, this species established on eroding banks and other bare soils in the sun, and a yellow-leaved cultivar is sold for horticultural use. It likely tolerates frequent water level fluctuations. Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Shore sedge
Carex lenticularis var. lipocarpa
Exposure: Full sun
Soil moisture: Wet
Salinity tolerance: None
Fire tolerance: High
Transplanting success: High
Growth rate: Rapid
Form: Dense tufts to 30 inches, no rhizomes
Found on lakeshores, stream-banks, wet meadows, and bogs. Shore sedge generally transplants and grows well, and tolerates frequent water level fluctuations, although it spreads slowly. Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Slender-foot sedge
Carex leptopoda (C. deweyana)
Exposure: Partial to full shade
Soil moisture: Moist
Salinity tolerance: None
Fire tolerance: High
Transplanting success: High
Growth rate: Rapid
Form: Loose tufts to 26 inches, no rhizomes
Found in mesic to moist forests, often in or near the riparian zone. In the Puget trough, slender-foot sedge is the most common of three distinct species that were formerly grouped together as Dewey's sedge, and the more common of only two forested upland sedge species (the other is Carex hendersonii). Slender-foot sedge generally transplants and grows well in the shade. Click here for photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Lyngbye's sedge
Carex lyngbyei
Exposure: Full sun
Soil moisture: Wet
Salinity tolerance: Medium
Fire tolerance: None
Transplanting success: High
Growth rate: Rapid
Form: Spreading on deep rhizomes to form dense stands, to 50 inches
Lyngybye's sedge forms dense stands in coastal salt marshes on Puget Sound, on the outer coast of Washington and Oregon, and along the lower Columbia River. Lyngbye's sedge is important for estuary restoration because it dominates shorelines and provides critical nutrient inputs in areas where juvenile salmonids feed and shelter. Click here for photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Slough sedge
Carex obnupta
Exposure: Full sun to shade
Soil moisture: Moist to wet
Salinity tolerance: Medium
Fire tolerance: High
Transplanting success: High
Growth rate: Rapid
Form: Dense tufts to 60 inches on long, fleshy rhizomes
Slough sedge is the superstar of emergent revegetation. It transplants very well, grows and spreads quickly, tolerates wide seasonal water level fluctuations, and is one of the few shade-tolerant sedges. If project conditions are at all suitable, it will perform impressively. It is one of our most competitive emergents against invasive species; established swards may resist even reed canarygrass. Slough sedge is very common and is found in wet woods, ditches, meadows, lakeshores, streambanks, and marshes. Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Sawbeak sedge
Carex stipata
Exposure: Full sun
Soil moisture: Wet
Salinity tolerance: Low
Fire tolerance: High
Transplanting success: High
Growth rate: Rapid
Form: Dense tufted clumps to 40 inches, no rhizomes
This widespread species frequents wet meadows, ditches, and stream sides. It likes disturbed ground, which means it prefers the conditions of most restoration and mitigation sites. It grows vigorously, but does not spread by rhizomes. Sometimes tolerant of part shade. Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Beaked sedge
Carex utriculata (C. rostrata)
Exposure: Full sun
Soil moisture: Wet to shallow water
Salinity tolerance: Low
Fire tolerance: High
Transplanting success: High
Growth rate: Rapid
Form: Large, thick stems to 45 inches, arising from long rhizomes and stolons
Beaked sedge is a common species found in soils wet year-round, such as the edges of ponds and lakes. It is sometimes tolerant of shade. Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Brown woolly sedge
Scirpus cyperinus
Exposure: Full sun
Soil moisture: Wet to shallow water
Salinity tolerance: None
Fire tolerance: Medium
Transplanting success: Medium
Growth rate: Medium
Form: Tufted stems to 5 feet, non-rhizomatous
Tolerates up to about 12 inches of water during the growing season and soil should be saturated year round. Bristles on the seed heads give this species its "woolly" appearance. We observed this species thriving in a constructed wastewater treatment wetland. Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Rushes
Common spikerush
Eleocharis palustris
Exposure: Full sun
Soil moisture: Wet to shallow water
Salinity tolerance: Low
Fire tolerance: Medium
Transplanting success: Medium
Growth rate: Unknown
Form: Small clusters to 40 inches along rhizomes
Common spikerush is found in wet meadows, tidal marshes, and shorelines. It can spend much of the year in shallow water, but needs to dry out for at least a few months during the growing season. Tolerates some salt water. Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Tapered rush
Juncus acuminatus
Exposure: Full sun
Soil moisture: Wet to shallow water
Salinity tolerance: None
Fire tolerance: High
Transplanting success: High
Growth rate: Medium to rapid
Form: Mostly tufted to 30 inches, sometimes with short rhizomes and in dense mats
Tapered rush prefers to be wet throughout the year, frequenting the shallow water of lakeshores, ditches, meadows, and marshes. This species matures quickly and produces prolific seeds that may aid in your revegetation efforts. Click here for photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Baltic rush
Juncus balticus
Exposure: Full sun
Soil moisture: Wet
Salinity tolerance: High
Fire tolerance: High
Transplanting success: High
Growth rate: Medium to rapid
Form: Loose carpets from rhizomes, to 27"
Baltic rush froms uniform carpets or sometimes grows intermixed with tufted hairgrass, above estuarine mudflats. Stellar golden coloration! Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Soft rush
Juncus effusus
Exposure: Full sun
Soil moisture: Moist to wet
Salinity tolerance: Low
Fire tolerance: High
Transplanting success: High
Growth rate: Rapid
Form: Scattered tufts growing on thick rhizomes, to 39"
Soft rush is the most common rush in the Pacific Northwest. It is widespread in wet pastures and disturbed areas, and occurs less commonly in salt marshes and tideflats, where it may grow intermixed with tufted hairgrass and saltgrass. Soft rush has a reputation for invasiveness, but in our experience it rarely forms monocultures, and can provide fairly rapid cover on marginal emergent sites with disturbed, compacted soils. Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Dagger-leaf rush
Juncus ensifolius
Exposure: Full sun
Soil moisture: Moist to wet
Salinity tolerance: Medium
Fire tolerance: High
Transplanting success: High
Growth rate: Medium
Form: Stems to 24 inches arising from fat rhizomes, often growing in a line
This small rush grows in moist sites but usually not in standing water. Common in wet meadows and tolerates somewhat compacted soil. We have seen this species spread rapidly along moist, disturbed shorelines. Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Slender rush
Juncus tenuis
Exposure: Full sun
Soil moisture: Moist to wet
Salinity tolerance: Low
Fire tolerance: High
Transplanting success: High
Growth rate: Unknown
Form: Tufted and slender to 26 inches, fibrous roots
Slender rush is most frequent in disturbed sites such as pastures, roadsides, and clearings. It is tolerant of compacted soils, some shade, and some drought, which means it will survive the conditions of many mitigation sites! Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Hardstem bulrush
Schoenoplectus acutus var. acutus
Exposure: Full sun
Soil moisture: Wet to shallow water
Salinity tolerance: Low
Fire tolerance: Medium
Transplanting success: Medium
Growth rate: Rapid
Form: Stout, tall stems to 10 feet, from rhizomes
Hardstem bulrush can form large colonies in standing water at lakeshores and marshes. It grows in deeper water than any other emergents we grew--plant it at a depth of 2-8" at lowest water. Generally a freshwater species, but can tolerate some salt water. Provides food, cover, and/or nesting sites for many species of birds and mammals. Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Seacoast bulrush
Schoenoplectus maritimus
Exposure: Full sun
Soil moisture: Wet
Salinity tolerance: High
Fire tolerance: Medium
Transplanting success: Unknown
Growth rate: Unknown
Form: Stout, erect stems to 5 feet, from rhizomes
Seacoast bulrush occurs primarily in high salt marshes, sometimes in association with Lyngbye's sedge. Provides food for migrating and wintering waterfowl, especially snow geese. Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Common threesquare
Schoenoplectus pungens
Exposure: Full sun
Soil moisture: Wet
Salinity tolerance: Medium
Fire tolerance: Medium
Transplanting success: High
Growth rate: Rapid
Form: Thin, erect stems to 3 feet, from thick rhizomes
Common threesquare occurs in estuarine salt marshes, and in freshwater wetlands with year-round saturation. In our experience, this species will not do well in sites that dry up for more than a few days. Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
Small-fruited bulrush
Scirpus microcarpus
Exposure: Full sun
Soil moisture: Wet to shallow water
Salinity tolerance: None
Fire tolerance: High
Transplanting success: High
Growth rate: Rapid
Form: Single, large stems to 5 feet, arising from rhizomes
Small-fruited bulrush is a vigorous grower in sloughs, streambanks, and disturbed sites such as ditches and wet clearings. This species likes to be wet year-round, although the soil may be dry at the surface during drought. It may tolerate some shade, but will grow less vigorously. Provides valuable food and nesting material for wildlife. Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.
