Other Names: Grass Rush
Plant Family: Butomaceae
Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus) is an invasive aquatic plant that grows in shallow marshes and lake shores. It is fairly aggressive and can grow in dense stands that are difficult to control, because the plant readily sprout after cutting or if all the root fragments are not removed after digging. Identification of the plant while not in flower can be difficult due to its resemblance to other species such as Stiff Arrowhead (Sagittaria rigida), and other wetland species. If the plant is to be controlled by any method, proper identification must be made to avoid harming native plants.
It is easy to see why Flowering Rush was brought into this county. It is an attractive, hardy plant that easily grows in backyard water gardens, but its seeds can easily escape and cause damage to native plant communities. It should never be planted or transplanted, and it is illegal to do in many areas.
