Eleocharis intermedia, commonly known as Matted Spikerush, is a perennial herb native to a wide range of wetland habitats including marshes, shores of lakes and ponds, wet meadows, and stream banks in Northeastern USA. It typically grows to a height and width of 0.7-1 feet (0.2-0.3 meters), forming dense, mat-like clumps. The plant features slender, grass-like stems and small, inconspicuous brownish spikelets that appear in the summer. While not showy, the flowers are ecologically significant as they provide food for wildlife.

Matted Spikerush is valued for its ability to stabilize soil and filter water, making it an excellent choice for water gardens, rain gardens, and naturalized wetland plantings. It is also used in constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment. This plant thrives in full sun to part shade and requires saturated to flooded soil conditions, reflecting its adaptation to aquatic environments. It is generally low maintenance but may require management to prevent it from spreading too aggressively in small garden ponds or water features.CC BY-SA 4.0