Slender Spikerush
Eleocharis tenuis
Last reviewed: June 2026
The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Slender Spikerush as toxic to livestock.
Light
full sun
Water
high
Size
8"–24" H × 2"–6" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AL, AR, CA, CT and 30 more states
Browse plants for this ecoregion
Eleocharis tenuis is a slender native sedge that forms narrow clumps of fine, grass-like stems. This wetland plant requires consistently moist to wet conditions and produces small, inconspicuous brown flower spikes in summer.
In an HOA neighborhood
Slender 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 soil conditions
- May appear weedy or unkempt to traditional landscaping standards
- Very fine texture can look sparse or patchy
Wildlife value
As a sedge, it provides seeds for waterfowl and small birds. The dense clumps offer nesting material and cover for wetland wildlife.
Common questions
- How much sun does Slender Spikerush need?
- Slender Spikerush grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Slender Spikerush bloom?
- Slender Spikerush blooms in June, July, and August.
- Where is Slender Spikerush native?
- Slender Spikerush (Eleocharis tenuis) is native to AL, AR, CA, CT and 30 more states, per the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists.
- Is Slender Spikerush toxic to livestock?
- The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Slender Spikerush as toxic to livestock.
- Is Slender Spikerush HOA-friendly?
- Slender 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 USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow Slender Spikerush? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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