Scientific Name:
Butomus umbellatus
Pronunciation:
BEW-toh mus um-bell-AY-tus
Common Name:
flowering rush
Family Name:
Butomaceae
Plant Type:
Aquatic plant, Herbaceous perennial, Invasive plant
Key ID Features:
Leaves linear, most 60-90cm long x 1-2cm wide, 3-sided; inflorescences cymose, umbel-like with 20-25 pink-red florets, each 2-3cm wide and with 6 pistils, 9 stamens, pedicels 4-10cm long, peduncle up to 150cm long; follicles, 6 per floret, each about 1cm long.
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Vase
Texture:
Medium - fine
Mature Height:
1.3 - 2.0m
Mature Spread:
1.0 - 1.5m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Central / west Asia, Europe (now naturalized in many parts of North America)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 2: (-46 to -40 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Bog
Landscape Uses:
Container planting, Wetland - bogs
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple, Grass-like
Arrangement:
Basal, Sessile
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Parallel venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous, Lustrous
Shapes:
Linear
Apices:
Acuminate
Bases:
Truncate
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Umbel, Floriferous
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
3
Corolla Shape:
Rotate/stellate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Purple, Pink
Flower Time at Peak:
Jul, Aug
Additional Info:
Umbel-like; six tepals (sepals petal-like but smaller)
Fruit Type:
Aggregate fruit, Follicle
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
Organ Modifications:
Leaf-like bracts, Rhizomes
Maintenance:
High
Pest Susceptibility:
(Pest resistant, Disease resistant)
