Flowering-rush is an introduced aquatic plant from Eurasia that has become a serious invasive weed in the Great Lakes. “Flowering rush infestations can displace native vegetation and result in reduced water quality which may disrupt valuable fish and wildlife habitat. Flowering rush is a perennial freshwater aquatic plant that grows in lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Waterbodies that flucutate in water levels are vulnerable to flowering rush infestations. In New England it is common only in the Lake Champlain Valley, and rare elsewhere. Flowering rush is an aggressive, invasive aquatic weed that has been documented in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Montana. Flowering Rush is more frequently (and much more easily) found in ponds in gardens and parks. Habitat. It has been observed in very clear water up to 20 feet (6.1 m) deep in Flathead Lake. It is now occurs in Sanders, Lake, and Flathead Counties, and in Flathead Lake, upper and lower Flathead Rivers, Clark Fork River into Lake Pend Oreille (Idaho), Thompson Falls Reservoir, Noxon Reservoir, and Cabinet Gorge Reservoir. This plant thrives in freshwater wetlands; commonly found along edges of rivers and lakes. It can also grow suspended in water up to 3-6 m deep. It grows along shores in shallow water as an upright and stiff plant. Flowering rush has already invaded the Great Lakes region and has caused significant impacts. Submerged plants often don’t flower. Flowering rush can be found along shorelines and in slow-moving rivers and streams that are up to 9 ft. deep. However, flowering rush is a popular and common plant for… Habitat & Ecology. In deeper water, it grows beneath the water with the leaves floating on the surface. Habitat Flowering rush grows along lake shores, slow moving waters, irrigation ditches and in wetlands. It is established in the upper Columbia River watershed, the lower Yakima River, and the Spokane River. It typically grows in shallow waters, but can survive and grow across a range of water levels. Flowering rush blooms between June and September. This plant has the potential to invade and disrupt native marshlands in the Columbia River Basin and the impact of flowering rush on spawning habitat for native salmonid species is a growing concern. Flowering rush has invaded the shores of Michigan waterways since the early 1900’s, affecting the Detroit River as early as 1918, but in recent years has become a much greater problem, and is listed as a restricted noxious weed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. When depths are greater than It was first observed in the St. Lawrence River in 1897. This plant doesn't provide the necessities of shelter for our shoreline birds it also isn't strong enough for the red winged black bird to perch on leaving them to find other habitat elsewhere. Habitat. Is It Here Yet? In the wild this plant grows with its roots in slow-flowing water, so canals and ponds are good places to investigate when looking for it. Dense stands in irrigation ditches can reduce water availability, and in lakes can can interfere with boat propellers and swimming.” Alberta Invasive Plants Council Flowering rush displaces native vegetation such as rushes and cattails which are primary habitat for wildlife and primarily waterfowl. Historically the Flowering Rush was a common food in Northern Europe particularly Russia where food sometimes was scarce. Flowering Rush was first collected in Montana along the north margin of Flathead Lake in 1962. It spreads quickly through bulbils (small bulb-like structure), and fragments of the rhizomes (a type of underground stem). Common Name: Flowering Rush Scientific Name: Butomus umbellatus Habitat: shorelines - mainly in water Provincial Designation: Prohibited Noxious Prohibited Noxious weeds are plant species designated in the Alberta Weed Control Act.Prohibited noxious weeds must be destroyed when found, meaning all growing parts need to be killed or the plant's reproductive mechanisms need to be rendered non-viable.