Poverty Rush
Juncus tenuis
Family: Juncaceae
What it is like
Juncus tenuis is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft). It is in flower from June to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.
Height (m): 0.3
Where it is found
Moist sandy soils in woods. Naturalized in Britain where it grows along roadsides, on waste ground and by field paths.
N. America - Alaska to Quebec, south to Texas. Widely naturalized and spreading in Britain.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 0
Medicine
Rating: 1
An infusion of the plant has been given to babies to prevent lameness and also used as a wash on babies to strengthen them.
Other
Rating: 1
A string made from the plant has been used to bind up dough in oak leaves for cooking bread.
How it is grown
Easily grown in a moist soil or bog garden. Prefers a heavy soil in sun or light shade. This species is closely related to J. dudleyi. The seeds become very mucilaginous and are spread by becoming attached to tractor wheels etc.
Propagating it: Seed - surface sow in pots in a cold frame in early spring and keep the compost moist. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer if they have grown sufficiently, otherwise in late spring of the following year. Division in spring. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 0-0
Growth:
Soil: Medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist, wet
Things to keep in mind
Although no reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, there is a report that one member of this genus is possibly toxic to mammals..