Flowering Rush Identification & Treatment
Scientific Name: Butomus umbellatus Category: Emergent Tier: 3 — Localized — Limited geographic range or lower frequency
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Identification
Flowering rush has long (up to 3 feet), triangular-in-cross-section, sword-like leaves arising from a thick rhizome. Produces umbrella-shaped clusters of pink to white flowers on tall stalks. Key distinguishing features:
- Triangular leaf cross-section (key ID feature — twist a leaf between your fingers)
- Umbrella-shaped pink flower clusters
- Tall, erect growth habit
Treatment
- Glyphosate 5.4 — Applied to emergent foliage.
- Clearcast (imazamox) — Systemic option.
- Physical removal of rhizomes is effective for small populations but difficult because fragments regenerate.
Full Profile
- Native Range: Europe and temperate Asia
- US Distribution: Northern US — Great Lakes region, Pacific Northwest, northern Great Plains. EPA Ecoregions: Northern Lakes and Forests, Northwestern Great Plains, Columbia Plateau. USDA Zones 3–7.
- Regulatory Status: Listed as invasive in multiple northern states.
- Habitat: Lake and river margins, wetlands. Grows in shallow water.
- Reproduction: Rhizomes, bulbils, and seed. Rhizome fragments regenerate readily.
- Ecological Benefits: Provides some shoreline habitat but forms dense monocultures that displace native emergent communities.
Sources: Texas A&M AquaPlant – Flowering Rush | USDA PLANTS Database
Related Species
- Cattails (Typha latifolia (broadleaf), T. angustifolia (narrowleaf), T. × glauca (hybrid)) — Emergent, Tier 1
- Phragmites (Common Reed) (Phragmites australis subsp. australis (invasive) vs. P. australis subsp. americanus (native)) — Emergent, Tier 1
- Creeping Water Primrose (Ludwigia spp. (L. peploides, L. grandiflora, L. repens)) — Emergent, Tier 1
- Dollar Weed (Pennywort) (Hydrocotyle spp. (H. umbellata, H. ranunculoides, H. verticillata)) — Emergent, Tier 2
- Alligator Weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) — Emergent, Tier 2
- Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) — Emergent, Tier 3
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