Isolepis cernua

RHS Plant Profile

slender club-rush

Other common names

Dougal grass, drooping rush, optical fibre plant, clwbfrwynen fain

Synonyms

Isolepis 'Live Wire'
Scirpus cernuus

Bogs

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An evergreen herbaceous annual or perennial, 15-30cm high, with very narrow, thread-like leaves, topped from mid to late summer by small silvery-white petal-less flowerheads which are followed by small brown-red seedheads

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Poorly–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or North–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Cyperaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Tufted
Genus: Isolepis are short annual or perennial herbaceous perennials with narrow, grass-like leaves and spikes of petal-less flowers
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Temp. to Andes

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in full sun or light shade as a marginal pond plant in 2-8cm of water, in damp or wet soil in a bog garden, or in a very well-watered container

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by division from mid-spring to early summer; see pond plant propagation

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free