Botanical Name: Juncus effusus ‘Blue Dart’

Common Name: Ornamental Rush

Hardiness Zone: Perennial in Most Climates (USDA Zones 5–9)

Size: 18–24" Tall × 12–18" Spread

Growth Habit: Upright, Clumping, Strongly Vertical Habit

Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Soil: Moist to Wet Soil; Adapts to Average Garden Soil

Water Needs: High; Prefers Consistently Moist Conditions

Bloom Season: Grown for Foliage (Spring through Fall)

Fertilizer: Minimal; Avoid Excess Fertility

Features: Blue-Green Vertical Stems, Clean Architectural Form, Excellent Moisture Tolerance

Uses: Containers, Water Gardens, Rain Gardens, Modern Landscapes, Accent Plantings

Patent: ✔ Patented

Propagation: ❌ Propagation Prohibited Without License

More About Juncus ColorGrass® Blue Dart

Juncus ColorGrass® Blue Dart is prized for its crisp, blue-green vertical stems that add instant structure and modern appeal to containers and landscape plantings. The narrow, upright form creates clean lines that contrast beautifully with mounding or trailing plants.

Unlike traditional grasses, juncus thrives in consistently moist to wet conditions, making it an excellent choice for rain gardens, water features, or containers that receive frequent watering. It also performs well in standard garden soil as long as moisture is maintained.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trials, Blue Dart has been exceptionally reliable in both full sun and partial shade. It maintains its vertical form without flopping, tolerates heat and humidity, and remains attractive throughout the growing season.

We especially appreciate its versatility in design. It works beautifully as a container “thriller,” a focal accent in modern landscapes, or a structural element near ponds and water features. Its cool-toned foliage pairs well with bright flowers, dark foliage, and silver accents.

Juncus ColorGrass® Blue Dart vs. Other Juncus

Juncus ‘Blue Dart’ is a compact rush that excels for its smaller footprint and flexible placement, making it ideal where Blue Arrow may feel too tall or rigid. When compared to Blue Arrow, Blue Dart offers slightly more movement while remaining upright, and it stays shorter than both Blue Arrow and Prince Tut™. Against Juncus ‘Twister’, Blue Dart reads cleaner and less playful, favoring minimalism over whimsy. It contrasts sharply with Pink Muhly Grass and Pennisetum ‘Fireworks’, which prioritize seasonal drama over year-round structure.

Blue Dart also behaves more predictably than Rubrum, which can sprawl in heat. Compared to Carex ‘Red Rooster’, Blue Dart maintains a straighter habit and cooler coloration. It is less moisture-loving than Acorus ‘Ogon’ but still adaptable near water features. Overall, Blue Dart fills an important role as a scaled-down architectural grass that bridges bold structure and flexible design use.