*Butomus umbellatus Linnaeus. Common name: Greater Flowering-rush. Phenology: Jun-Sep. Habitat: Marshes, lakes, ponds, stream edges, submersed in fresh water, other wet places, often disturbed. Distribution: Native of Eurasia. Established in KY, OH, w. MO(?), PA northward and westward. Wood & Utz (2022) reported collections and iNaturalist observations documented a southern expansion of this invasive aquatic in the Ohio River watershed portions of our region.
ID notes: Submersed plants have more elongated and thinner leaves and are generally sterile. Overall, a showy pink-flowered species of various wetlands that is hard to mistake for other species.
Origin/Endemic status: Eurasia
Taxonomy Comments: Gaskin et al. (2021) studied the genetic diversity of Butomus umbellatus naturalization in North America.
Other Comments: In the ne. US primarily occurring in disturbed areas within the broader Great Lakes region, where it is commonly encountered in disturbed wetlands. While much more common in more northern temperate wetlands, it occurs sporadically further south to nw. KY, s. OH, c. IN, w. and e. PA (unglaciated).
Synonymy ⓘ: = AqW, C, F, G, GrPl, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa; > Butomus junceus Turcz.; < Butomus umbellatus L. — Can, FNA22. Basionym: Butomus umbellatus L. 1753
Links to other floras: < Butomus umbellatus - FNA22
Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
- Great Plains: OBL
- Midwest: OBL
- Northcentral & Northeast: OBL
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.






Feedback
See something wrong or missing on about Butomus umbellatus? Let us know here: (Please include your name and email if at all complicated so we can clarify if needed.) We greatly appreciate feedback, and will include updates from you in our next webapp update, which can take a few months. If a species is not keyed, that's because keying is ongoing. Please don't send us feedback about unkeyed species.
Horticultural Information
No horticultural data found for this taxon.