In deeper water, it grows beneath the water with the leaves floating on the surface. Historically the Flowering Rush was a common food in Northern Europe particularly Russia where food sometimes was scarce. Is It Here Yet? It has been observed in very clear water up to 20 feet (6.1 m) deep in Flathead Lake. In New England it is common only in the Lake Champlain Valley, and rare elsewhere. It can also grow suspended in water up to 3-6 m deep. This plant thrives in freshwater wetlands; commonly found along edges of rivers and lakes. Flowering rush is a perennial freshwater aquatic plant that grows in lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Dense stands in irrigation ditches can reduce water availability, and in lakes can can interfere with boat propellers and swimming.” Alberta Invasive Plants Council 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. Flowering rush blooms between June and September. It was first observed in the St. Lawrence River in 1897. “Flowering rush infestations can displace native vegetation and result in reduced water quality which may disrupt valuable fish and wildlife habitat. It grows along shores in shallow water as an upright and stiff plant. 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 is established in the upper Columbia River watershed, the lower Yakima River, and the Spokane River. Flowering rush displaces native vegetation such as rushes and cattails which are primary habitat for wildlife and primarily waterfowl. Habitat. Flowering-rush is an introduced aquatic plant from Eurasia that has become a serious invasive weed in the Great Lakes. Habitat Flowering rush grows along lake shores, slow moving waters, irrigation ditches and in wetlands. Habitat. 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 & Ecology. It spreads quickly through bulbils (small bulb-like structure), and fragments of the rhizomes (a type of underground stem). Flowering rush can be found along shorelines and in slow-moving rivers and streams that are up to 9 ft. deep. Submerged plants often don’t flower. Flowering rush has already invaded the Great Lakes region and has caused significant impacts. Flowering Rush was first collected in Montana along the north margin of Flathead Lake in 1962. It typically grows in shallow waters, but can survive and grow across a range of water levels. 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. Waterbodies that flucutate in water levels are vulnerable to flowering rush infestations. 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