How much sun does Blunt Spikerush need?

Blunt Spikerush grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Blunt Spikerush bloom?

Blunt Spikerush blooms in June, July, August, and September.

Where is Blunt Spikerush native?

Blunt Spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) is native to AL, AR, CA, CO and 39 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

Is Blunt Spikerush toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Blunt Spikerush as toxic to livestock.

Is Blunt Spikerush HOA-friendly?

Blunt Spikerush takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Blunt Spikerush

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Eleocharis obtusa

Last reviewed: August 2026

Toxicity unknown

Blunt Spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Blunt Spikerush as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

high

Size

4"–16" H × 2"–6" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AL, AR, CA, CO and 39 more states

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 437 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Chihuahuan Deserts High Plains Southwestern Tablelands Central Great Plains Cross Timbers Edwards Plateau East Central Texas Plains Western Gulf Coastal Plain South Central Plains Eastern Temperate Forests Ozark Highlands Central Irregular Plains Piedmont Western Corn Belt Plains Northern Forests Northern Lakes and Forests North Central Hardwood Forests Driftless Area Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains Central Corn Belt Plains Eastern Corn Belt Plains Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains Huron/Erie Lake Plains Northeastern Highlands Northeastern Coastal Zone Northern Allegheny Plateau Erie Drift Plain Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Piedmont Southeastern Plains Blue Ridge Ridge and Valley Central Appalachians Western Allegheny Plateau Interior Plateau Interior River Valleys and Hills Mississippi Alluvial Plain Mississippi Valley Loess Plains Southern Coastal Plain Acadian Plains and Hills Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Blunt spikerush is a small, grass-like native sedge that forms clumps of slender green stems topped with small brown seed heads. This moisture-loving plant thrives in consistently wet soils and produces inconspicuous blooms from summer through early fall. As an annual, it completes its life cycle in one growing season.

In an HOA neighborhood

Blunt Spikerush takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Requires consistently wet conditions that may create drainage issues
Very small size and wetland appearance may look out of place in typical landscaping
Brownish flower spikes can appear weedy to conventional standards

Wildlife value

This sedge provides seeds for waterfowl and small birds, particularly during fall migration. The dense clumps offer nesting material and cover for small wildlife in wetland areas.

Common questions

How much sun does Blunt Spikerush need?: Blunt Spikerush grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Blunt Spikerush bloom?: Blunt Spikerush blooms in June, July, August, and September.
Where is Blunt Spikerush native?: Blunt Spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) is native to AL, AR, CA, CO and 39 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Is Blunt Spikerush toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Blunt Spikerush as toxic to livestock.
Is Blunt Spikerush HOA-friendly?: Blunt Spikerush takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

Ready to grow Blunt Spikerush? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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