• Photo of Eleocharis montevidensis (Eleocharis montevidensiss)

Plant Profile: Eleocharis montevidensis

Taxonomy: Eleocharis montevidensis

Names

Spike Rush

  • Photo of Eleocharis montevidensis (Eleocharis montevidensiss)

Phonetic Spelling:el-ee-OK-ar-iss mon-tay-vid-EN-sis

Genus:Eleocharis

Species:montevidensis

Family:Cyperaceae

Spike Rush is a common coastal species indigenous to the United States. This plant thrives in damp, sandy areas found in diverse environments such as lakes, riverbanks, wet meadows, woodlands, and springs. Its leaves are slender and hair-like, while its flower spikes take on the appearance of tiny cones. Spike Rush has a tendency to spread vigorously through both rhizomes and seeds. It can be cultivated in a 1-2 gallon container with a water depth of 1-2 inches and is also suitable for use in aquariums.

Eleocharis montevidensis Feature Summary

Eleocharis montevidensis Image Gallery

Tags

#full sun tolerant
#green
#grass
#stream banks
#NC native
#ponds
#coastal plants
#marshes
#sandy soils tolerant
#meadows

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Eleocharis montevidensis Feature Summary

Attributes
Central & S. U.S.A.,S. America
AL , AZ , CA , CO , FL , GA , KS , LA , MS , NC , NM , OK , SC , TX
Provides food for waterfowl and shorebirds.
Perennial
Flowers
Tiny rounded reddish spikelets resembling cones at tips of stems April- Aug.
Spring
Summer
< 1 inch
Leaves
Whole Plant Traits
Native Plant
Water Plant
Erect
Spreading
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Frequent Standing Water
Coastal
Landscape
Rain Garden
Water Garden
Naturalized Area
Pond

Eleocharis montevidensis Attributes

Eleocharis montevidensis: Country Or Region Of Origin

Central & S. U.S.A.,S. America

Eleocharis montevidensis: Distribution

AL , AZ , CA , CO , FL , GA , KS , LA , MS , NC , NM , OK , SC , TX

Eleocharis montevidensis: Wildlife Value

Provides food for waterfowl and shorebirds.

Eleocharis montevidensis: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Eleocharis montevidensis Flowers

Eleocharis montevidensis: Flower Description

Tiny rounded reddish spikelets resembling cones at tips of stems April- Aug.

Eleocharis montevidensis: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Eleocharis montevidensis: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Eleocharis montevidensis: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Eleocharis montevidensis Leaves

Eleocharis montevidensis: Leaf Description

Grass-like leaves

Eleocharis montevidensis: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Eleocharis montevidensis: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Eleocharis montevidensis: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Eleocharis montevidensis: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Eleocharis montevidensis Whole Plant Traits

Eleocharis montevidensis: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Eleocharis montevidensis: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Eleocharis montevidensis: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Eleocharis montevidensis Cultural Conditions

Eleocharis montevidensis: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Eleocharis montevidensis: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Eleocharis montevidensis: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Eleocharis montevidensis: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Eleocharis montevidensis Stem

Eleocharis montevidensis: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Eleocharis montevidensis Landscape

Eleocharis montevidensis: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Eleocharis montevidensis: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Eleocharis montevidensis: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy