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Pale Spikerush

Eleocharis macrostachya

Last reviewed: June 2026

Pale Spikerush (Eleocharis macrostachya)
Photo: Gordon Leppig & Andrea J. Pickart / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Light

full sun

Water

high

Size

8"–24" H × 4"–12" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

AR, AZ, CA, CO and 23 more states

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast RangeSierra NevadaCentral California ValleyCentral California Foothills and Coastal MountainsSouthern California/Northern Baja CoastCentral Basin and RangeMojave Basin and RangeChihuahuan DesertsCentral Oklahoma/Texas PlainsEdwards PlateauSouthern Texas PlainsTexas Blackland PrairiesWestern Gulf Coastal PlainSouth Central PlainsSonoran Basin and Range

Pale spikerush is a clumping wetland grass that forms neat, vertical tufts of narrow green stems. It produces small, pale brown flower spikes at the stem tips during summer and thrives in consistently moist to wet soils.

In an HOA neighborhood

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

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Requires consistently wet conditions that are impractical in most yard settings
  • Appearance may be too wild or weedy for formal landscapes
  • Limited ornamental appeal compared to traditional garden plants

Wildlife value

This plant provides habitat and nesting material for waterfowl and wetland birds. The seeds support various songbirds and small mammals in wetland ecosystems.

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

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