Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) is a tall British native rush that has long narrow dark green leaves which twist slightly as they get taller, and produces pretty umbrella headed flowers with dainty pink flowers around June to July.  A valuable native plant providing egg laying sites for adult dragonfly as well as perching and roosting sites. The larvae use the stems to climb out of the water.

It grows well in a sunny position but make sure it has plenty of room to grow if in a basket as it doesn’t like being constricted, so it would benefit from being potted up to a 23cm round basket.  It prefers growing with its crown at least 10cm below the surface of the water and is a nutrient hungry plant so will benefit from feeding with slow release fertiliser tablets in early spring

Please note as the young plants get taller the early leaves are quite soft so will inevitably get bent when packed and transported but as the plant matures the growth will strengthen.

Butomus sharp edged leaves to prevent it being used for fodder; umbellatus with flowers in umbels (parasol shaped clusters)

Height: 60-120cm

Planting position: Pond marginal shelf in full sun up to 25cm deep or very wet soil

Form:  9cm (0.5 litre) in a solid pot  -please select size below

Recommended basket size min./ideal: 2 litre round/3.5 litre round

(Recommended basket sizes are for potting up 9cm (0.5 litre) plants only as these are supplied in solid pots.  Larger sized plants are already in aquatic baskets so can go straight in the pond, however they may need potting up or splitting at some point)