This is the only member of the rush family to bear a flower. Tall flower stems up to 120 cm carry lovely umbels of pink flowers with deep red centres. Green leaves are narrow and fleshy, triangular in section. Tall, emergent plants such as Butomus provide habitat for pond insects, especially emerging dragonflies. It can be planted up to 30cm deep, useful for deeper water areas where some other marginals would not thrive.