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Chestnut Rush

Juncus castaneus

Last reviewed: June 2026

Chestnut Rush (Juncus castaneus)
Photo: Robert H. Mohlenbrock. USDA NRCS. 1992. Western wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. West Region, Sacramento. Courtesy of USDA NRCS Wetland Science Institute. / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

4"–12" H × 2"–6" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

CO, MT, NM, UT and 1 more states

Chestnut rush is a compact native sedge that forms small, neat clumps with slender green stems. It produces inconspicuous brown flower clusters in summer and maintains a tidy, grass-like appearance throughout the growing season.

In an HOA neighborhood

Chestnut Rush is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.

Wildlife value

This rush provides habitat and nesting material for small birds and supports various insects that feed on sedge family plants.

Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

Does Chestnut Rush fit your yard? Open it in Pollinator Patch to check it against your sun, soil, and HOA-conscious filters.

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