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Luzula parviflora
small-flowered wood rush
Circumboreal — Alaska south through BC, Washington, Oregon to California; Rocky Mountains; Europe and Asia; moist conifer forests, forest edges, and subalpine meadows
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At a Glance
TypeGrass
HabitClumping
FoliageSemi-evergreen
Height8-24 inches (20-60 cm)
Width12-18 inches (30-45 cm)
Maturity4 years
Overview
Luzula parviflora is a clumping perennial grass-like plant growing 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) tall in moist coniferous forest understory.
Native Range
Native to moist conifer forests, forest edges, and subalpine meadows from Alaska south through British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon to California, and east across the Rocky Mountains; also broadly circumboreal.Suggested Uses
Used in native woodland gardens, forest restorations, and shaded forest floor plantings under conifer canopy within Pacific Northwest and circumboreal native ranges. Spaced 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart, plants form a loose grass-like understory layer over 3-4 seasons. Pairs with other moisture-loving forest perennials and shade-tolerant native ferns in mixed forest plantings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 2'
Width/Spread1' - 1'6"
Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years
Bloom Information
Blooms June to August with open spreading panicles 3-6 inches (7-15 cm) long of small brownish flowers held above the foliage. Each flower is 0.1-0.15 inch (2.5-4 mm) across and held singly or in pairs along the panicle branches. Flowering lasts 4-6 weeks per clump and matures into small three-valved seed capsules.Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Green with white marginal hairsGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-5 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Site L. parviflora in part shade to full shade with consistently moist, organic-rich, well-drained forest soil. Plant divisions or container plants in spring or fall, spacing 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart in shaded forest floor settings. Water deeply during the first growing season; established plants in shaded sites with summer moisture require no supplemental irrigation. Foliage will brown out in chronically dry sites and the plant will not persist where summer drought is severe. A 2-3 inch (5-7.5 cm) layer of leaf mulch annually mimics natural forest litter and supports establishment. Clumps spread slowly and self-seed modestly into surrounding forest floor.Pruning
No regular pruning is required. Cut back any browned or winter-damaged foliage in early spring before new growth begins. Senescing leaves can be left in place to decompose into the leaf litter or removed for visual cleanup.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring
Maintenance Level
very lowContainer Growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons