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| ## Creeping spikerush {#creeping-spikerush .Title-Header}             |
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| *Eleocharis palustris* (L.) Roemer & J.A. Schultes                    |
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| Plant symbol = ELPA3                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Idaho State Office

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="3.0569444444444445in"
height="2.042361111111111in"}Robert Mohlenbrock

USDA SCS. 1989. Midwest Wetland Flora

##### Alternate Names {#alternate-names .Header-3}

Common spikerush

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

Creeping spikerush is suitable for erosion control, constructed wetland
system applications, wildlife food and cover, wetland restoration and
creation and improvement of plant diversity in wetland and riparian
communities. Plants spread rapidly by rhizomes and will develop a thick
root mass that is resistant to compaction and erosion. The rhizomes also
form a matrix for many beneficial bacteria making this plant an
excellent choice for wastewater management applications.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Description and Adaptation {#description-and-adaptation .Header-3}

Creeping spikerush is a perennial, strongly rhizomatous wetland plant
naturally occurring in wet meadows, seeps, springs, lake margins and
other wetland environments. Stems are upright and round and are
typically 10 to 70 cm (4 to 27 in) tall. Stems are topped with a
terminal spikelet bearing numerous flowers. The fruit is a yellow to
brown lenticular achene from 1.5 to 2.5 mm long. Achenes are tipped with
a tubercle and subtended by up to 8 bristles.

Creeping spikerush is a native obligate wetland species found throughout
the Northern Hemisphere. It occurs in all U.S. states except Georgia,
Florida and Hawaii.

Creeping spikerush grows on sites that are either permanently or
seasonally flooded. The plants can grow and thrive in permanent water up
to 1 m (3 ft) deep. They can also survive in areas where the water table
drops to 30 cm (12 in) below the surface late in the growing season.
Plants are commonly found growing in areas totally inundated for up to 4
months. Plants grow in saturated, fine textured soils in neutral to
alkaline or saline conditions (pH 7 to 8 and EC \<14).

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

Germination rates can be enhanced by lightly scarifying the seed
followed by wet pre-chilling in a mixture of water and sphagnum moss at
2ºC (35º F) for 30 to 45 days. Seed requires light, moisture and heat
for germination. For greenhouse propagation, place seed on soil surface
and press in lightly to assure good soil contact. Do not cover seed.
Soil should be kept moist, and the greenhouse should be kept hot, 32 to
38ºC (90 to 100º F). Germination should begin within one to two weeks.
Maintain soil moisture until transplanting. Plugs should be transplanted
at 30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 in) spacing. This allows plants to fill in
interspaces within one growing season. Soils should be kept saturated
with no more than 8 cm (3 in) of standing water at any time during the
first growing season. Fluctuating water levels during the establishment
year will facilitate spreading. Seed can be collected by hand stripping
or clipping with hand shears.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

##### Pests and Potential Problems {#pests-and-potential-problems .Header-3}

There are no known problems with insects or diseases. Aphids will feed
on the stems, but little or no damage has been noted, and the vigor of
the plants has not been affected.

##### Environmental Concerns {#environmental-concerns .Header-3}

These selected class releases are from a species native to the
Intermountain West and have no known negative impacts on wild or
domestic animals.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

The Aberdeen PMC has released four performance tested ecotypes of
creeping spikerush from the PMC service area. The CJ Strike Selection
was collected from the CJ Strike Wildlife Management Area (WMA) near
Bruneau, Idaho. It was selected for use in Land Resource Region (LRR) B
West. The Malheur Selection was selected for use in LRR D North. It was
collected from the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) near Burns,
OR. The Mud Lake Selection comes from the Mud Lake WMA, north of
Terreton, Idaho and was selected for use in LRR B East. The Ruby Lake
Selection was selected for use in LRR D South. The collection site was
the Ruby Lake NWR in Elko County, NV.

Sixteen creeping spikerush collections from the Aberdeen PMC Service
Area were evaluated from 1991 to 1995. All collections were evaluated
for survival, vigor, overall growth and spread, potential seed
production, and above ground biomass production. The PMC released one
selection from each LRR in the PMC service area. The released selections
are the accessions with the best overall rating against others from
within its respective LRR. Accession numbers: CJ Strike (9057585),
Malheur Selection (9057607), Mud Lake Selection (9067389), and Ruby Lake
Selection (9067387).

Generation 0 (G0) seed is maintained at Aberdeen PMC. Later generation
seed (ie G1) is not produced, maintained or available through the
USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Center. To make collections of these creeping
spikerush releases, contact the appropriate managing agency for the
original collection site.

##### Prepared By:  {#prepared-by .Header-3}

##### USDA NRCS Aberdeen PMC, Aberdeen, ID. {#usda-nrcs-aberdeen-pmc-aberdeen-id. .Header-3}

##### Species Coordinator:  {#species-coordinator .Header-3}

##### J. Chris Hoag, USDA NRCS Aberdeen PMC, Aberdeen, ID. {#j.-chris-hoag-usda-nrcs-aberdeen-pmc-aberdeen-id. .Header-3}

##### Edited: 24may06jsp {#edited-24may06jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
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*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
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