The thick, polished, cylindrical foliage that fantastically twists, winds and corkscrews upwards defines this dramatic evergreen Juncus. Best ensconced in containers to abate the creeping rhizomes, easily grown ‘Big Twister’ is an attention-grabbing showpiece for water features, pond margins, boggy areas or even inside as a house plant. It thwarts those pesky deer, relishes bright shade plus evenly moist soil and makes an extraordinary addition to fresh or dried arrangements.

Size: 18" – 2' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 5.

Discovered just 20 minutes south of us near the quaint coastal town of Elk, this amenable fine-textured rush was introduced in 1994 by Randy Baldwin’s San Marcos Growers. Short rhizomes nurture a vertical tight-set clump of stiff, rounded, slim leafless stems that are coveted for their tailored, slightly shorter than the species, markedly blue habit. Hosting songbird-friendly golden brown flower clusters from spring to fall, ‘Elk Blue’s attractive spiky evergreen guise can be relished in mixed borders, coastal gardens, drought-tolerant landscapes, waterside plantings, containers and even cut arrangements. It tackles deer, rabbits and erosion as well as dry conditions, standing water and sun or dappled shade with equal ease.

Blooms May–October

Size: 12" – 2' 0" high x 12" – 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 8.

Easily swayed by the slightest breeze, the upright thicket of slender, gray-green cylindrical stems has an engaging kinetic presence. This versatile grasslike perennial yields small brown flower clusters at its stem tips and makes an exceptional fine textured companion for a lush grass such as Molinia ‘Bergfreund’ in a mixed planting or along a pond or stream bank.

Found sauntering about Australia’s coastal areas, it can handle dry or moist sites and appreciates a hard late winter pruning to ensure fresh looking spring growth.

Blooms July – September

Size: 4' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 8.