Soft Rush has a wide distribution, considered native in Europe, Asia, Africa, Madagascar, North America, and South America. It grows in wet areas, such as wetlands, riparian areas, and marshes with sandy and peaty substrates. The species provides wildfowl, wader feeding, and nesting habitats, and also habitats for small mammals. The rootstalks are eaten by muskrats, and birds take shelter amongst the plant's stems. A number of invertebrates feed on soft rush. Great rain garden plant. 

In Japan, this rush is called igusa (藺草) and is grown to be woven into the covering of tatami mats.