Description
Butomus – Flowering Rush – Water Gladiolus –
There is a single species of an elegant rhizomatous, deciduous, aquatic perennial, in this genus. It is widely distributed in Europe, Western Asia, and North America, often found at the margins of ponds or in shallow water with cattails (Typha). It produces, long, narrow, twisted, razor sharp edged leaves and fragrant, pink, white, to rose pink flowers in summer
Grow in rich boggy soil at the margins of ponds, or in water to 10″ deep, in full sun. Divide rhizomes in early spring when dormant.
Prone to waterlily aphid.
B. umbellatus – This rush like, marginal aquatic perennial from Eurasia and North America grows 4-5′ feet tall and 18-24″ wide. It produces long, twisted, radical, mid green leaves, ½” wide, turning bronze purple when young, later dark green as they extend, with sheathed, triangular bases. In late summer it bears spreading umbels, to 4″ across, of many cup shaped, fragrant, rose-pink flowers, to 1″ across, are held above the water but are partial hidden by the foliage.
Zones 4-11
