Fiberoptic Grass
(Isolepis cernua)
Fiberoptic Grass (Isolepis cernua)
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Jerzy Opioła
CC BY-SA 4.0
Image By:
Jerzy Opioła
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY-SA 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Jerzy Opioła | License Type: CC BY-SA 4.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 | Uploader: Selso | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Isolepis_cernua_1-OB9.jpg | Notes: Uploaded a work by Murray Fagg from https://biocache.ala.org.au/occurrences/354d5548-1e32-405d-bc0f-018e81ce882b with UploadWizard |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Isolepis cernua, commonly known as Fiberoptic Grass, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the sedge family. It is native to a variety of wetland habitats including marshes, wet meadows, and the margins of ponds and streams across parts of Australasia, Eurasia, Africa, and North and South America. This sedge typically forms dense clumps reaching 10-30 cm in height and width. Fiberoptic Grass has fine, hair-like green foliage that gracefully arches outward, resembling the fiber optic decorative lights, hence its common name. It produces inconspicuous brownish flowers at the tips of the stems during the summer months, which are not particularly showy but add to the plant’s overall texture.
Fiberoptic Grass is valued for its unique texture and form, making it a popular choice for water gardens, bog gardens, and as a container plant to mimic the appearance of ornamental grasses. It thrives in consistently moist to wet conditions, often used to stabilize pond edges or as a ground cover in wet areas. While it prefers full sun to part shade, it is adaptable to various light conditions. It requires soils with poor to moderate drainage, as it is tolerant of standing water. Gardeners should be aware that in ideal wet conditions, it can spread vigorously, potentially becoming invasive. Regular division and control of its growth may be necessary to prevent unwanted spread.CC BY-SA 4.0
Fiberoptic Grass is valued for its unique texture and form, making it a popular choice for water gardens, bog gardens, and as a container plant to mimic the appearance of ornamental grasses. It thrives in consistently moist to wet conditions, often used to stabilize pond edges or as a ground cover in wet areas. While it prefers full sun to part shade, it is adaptable to various light conditions. It requires soils with poor to moderate drainage, as it is tolerant of standing water. Gardeners should be aware that in ideal wet conditions, it can spread vigorously, potentially becoming invasive. Regular division and control of its growth may be necessary to prevent unwanted spread.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Grass
- Height: 0.8-1 feet
- Width: 1-1.5 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Winter, Spring
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: High
- Drainage: Wet, Slow
Common Uses
Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Salt Tolerant, Street Planting, Water Garden
Natural Habitat
Wetland habitats including marshes, wet meadows, and pond and stream margins
Other Names
Common Names: Slender Club-Rush, Tufted Clubrush, Fiberoptic Grass, Low Clubrush, Scirpe Incliné, Scirpe Penché, Souchet Penché, Knikkende Bies, Ampelsäv
Scientific Names: , Isolepis cernua, Scirpus cernuus, Schoenoplectus cernuus, Eleogiton cernua, Isolepis mineae, Isolepis prolifera, Isolepis savii, Scirpus leptaleus, Scirpus leptocaulis
GBIF Accepted Name: Isolepis cernua (Vahl) Roem. & Schult.