Baloskion spp.

cord rush

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

HardinessZones 8–10

Overview

Baloskion spp. is a genus of evergreen, rush-like perennials in the family Restionaceae, native to Australia. Plants form upright clumps 24-60 inches (60-150 cm) tall and 24-40 inches (60-100 cm) wide, spreading slowly by short rhizomes. As in other restios, photosynthesis is carried out by the green stems rather than by leaves, which are reduced to brown sheathing scales at the joints. The stems are slender and wiry, and in B. tetraphyllum bear whorls of thread-like, feathery green branchlets that give a soft, plumed look. Plants are dioecious, with separate male and female clumps; small brown flower spikelets cluster at the stem tips, the males more open and the females denser. Flowering is followed by small dry capsules. Plants are evergreen year-round and grow slowly to moderately, taking two to three years to form a full clump. Foliage colour shifts from bright green to bronze tones in cold or dry conditions.

Native Range

Native to eastern and southern Australia, including New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and parts of Queensland and South Australia. Plants grow in permanently or seasonally wet ground such as swamps, bogs, stream banks, and damp heath, usually on acidic, sandy or peaty soils.

Suggested Uses

Grown in bog gardens, pond and stream margins, and rain gardens, and as a vertical accent in moist borders, spaced 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) apart. The feathery forms suit container water features of at least 5 gallons (19 L). Plants need reliably moist, low-phosphorus conditions and decline in dry or richly fed soil.

How to Identify

Recognized as clumping, rush-like plants whose photosynthetic work is done by green stems, with leaves reduced to papery brown sheaths at the nodes. B. tetraphyllum is distinguished by whorls of feathery branchlets along the stems, giving a plumed outline, while plainer species have nearly bare stems. Brown spikelets at the stem tips and separate male and female plants further mark the genus.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 5'

Width/Spread2' - 3'4"

Colors

Flower Colors

brown

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Spring

Flowering occurs mainly in spring, from September to November in the native range and in spring in Northern Hemisphere cultivation. The brown spikelets are wind-pollinated and not showy. Dry capsules follow and may persist on female plants into summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range4.5 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

sand peat

Drainagewet

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants grow in full sun to part shade in constantly moist to wet, acidic, low-nutrient soil and tolerate waterlogged ground and pond margins. Drying out checks growth and browns the stems, so soil is kept damp, especially while plants establish. Phosphorus-rich fertilizers harm restios, so feeding is light or omitted. The hardier species withstand about 20-25 F (-7 to -4 C) and tolerate light frost once established. Few pests trouble them, though crown rot can follow stagnant, airless water. Old clumps are divided in spring to renew growth.

Pruning

Remove dead or browned stems at the base in late winter or early spring to keep clumps tidy. Plants do not regrow from cut green stems, so only spent or damaged growth is taken out rather than shearing the whole clump. Division in spring rejuvenates congested plants.

Pruning Schedule

winterearly spring