Black Needlerush Plants

Description

• Black needlerush has many other common names, each pointing to its color and the unique shape its leaves take -- needlelike at the tip and sharp enough to leave an impression on the skin. Such names include black grass, black rush and needlerush grass. Black needlerush can reach heights upwards of 5 feet. Its color is grayish green and often has a black hue. This is a bunching, perennial grass that forms dense stands.

Uses

• According to the USDA, black needlerush is often used in estuary restoration along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. It thrives in both saltwater and brackish waters. Black needlerush is especially helpful in areas where the water has relatively high levels of dilute organic wastes where it acts as a filter. It is often planted in man-made wetlands for this very purpose. Needlerush degrades to provide food for fish and crustacean prey, thereby strengthening marshland and wetland ecosystems.

Development and Spread

• Black needlerush grows in a wide variety of soils, from almost pure sand to clay mixtures, provided the pH is between 4.0 and 7.0. Needlerush spreads by rhizomes, but it also drops seeds every year. The seeds will germinate if they have access to sunlight; usually those floating on or submerged in water will germinate. This grass forms dense stands that grow to the size of meadows and can reach acres in size, according to the University of Florida. It is one of the dominant marsh plants in the Southern Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, according to the USDA.

Native Status

• Black needlerush is a native perennial water grass. Because of its native status, it is preferred for restoration projects and landscaping in riparian zones. Invasive aquatic species spread widely and quickly because of their proximity to water, so choose native plants when such choices need to be made.