Luzula sylvatica Solar Flare

The Luzula sylvatica 'Solar Flare', also known as Wood Rush, is a small ground cover grass, with broad leaves of a vibrant golden-green colour throughout the year. It is particularly interesting in shaded areas of the garden. This sturdy perennial grass blooms in spring, in the form of light panicles bearing small orange spikelets. It is perfect in dry or wet shade, under deciduous trees and bushes.

Luzula sylvatica is a perennial herbaceous plant with a weakly creeping large stump, belonging to the family Juncaceae, just like the rushes found in wet places. Unlike them, the wood rush tolerates drier conditions very well, and its foliage consists of linear and broadened leaves, rather than cylindrical ones. The wood rush, native to central and southern Europe, as well as Asia Minor and the Caucasus, is a very common plant found in woods and undergrowth. The 'Solar Flare' variety showcases lime green foliage that almost appears yellow, which stands out beautifully in the shade, throughout the year. The plant forms a dense tuft, shaped like a large cushion, reaching 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20in) in height and expanding over time. The evergreen leaves are arranged in long strips, 6 to 12 mm (1in) wide, slightly trailing and quite flexible in appearance. The small light orange flowers appear in April-May, gathered in light paniculate inflorescences.

Thriving in the dappled ambiance of deciduous woods, Luzula sylvatica 'Solar Flare' is an excellent, very hardy, plant for shade. As its name suggests, it grows very well under deciduous trees or small bushes, in intermittently dry shade or humus-rich soil. Plant it on slopes or in borders, alongside epimediums, periwinkles (Vinca), bigroot geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum), or coral bells (Heuchera). It also thrives in pots and can be used to embellish the base of shrubs grown in large pots, such as camellias or hibiscus.