Luzula sylvatica

Luzula sylvatica, also known as wood-rush, is a small ground-covering grass with large evergreen leaves, bordered by bristles. The foliage is a very bright light green, which looks wonderful in the shaded areas of the garden. It blooms in spring, in the form of light panicles bearing small brownish spikelets. It is an excellent perennial for dry or wet shade, perfect for adorning the base of deciduous bushes.

Luzula sylvatica is an herbaceous perennial plant with a large, slightly creeping stump. It belongs to the Juncaceae family, just like the rushes found in wet places. Unlike them, the wood-rush tolerates drier conditions very well, and its foliage is composed of linear and widened leaves, rather than cylindrical ones. The wood-rush is native to central and southern Europe, as well as Asia Minor and the Caucasus. This plant forms a dense, cushion-shaped tuft, reaching a height of 30 to 40cm (12 to 16in) and expanding over time. The persistent leaves, arranged in long wide strips measuring 6 to 12mm (1in), are flexible and display a superb intense, vivid and shiny green colour. Small brown flowers appear in April-May, gathered in light paniculate spikes.

Thriving in the dappled ambiance of leafy woods, Luzula sylvatica is an excellent hardy shade plant. As its name suggests, it grows very well under deciduous trees or small bushes, in periodically dry shade or humus-rich soil. Plant it on banks or in borders, alongside epimediums, periwinkles (Vinca), bigroot geraniums (Geranium macrorrhizum), or heucheras. It also thrives well in pots and can be used to adorn the base of bushes grown in large containers, such as camellias or hibiscus.