Description

So cool! The almost evergreen lime-colored leaves are broad, up to an inch across, and have puckered ribs like a Christmas ribbon. (And if you know me, you know how much I love Christmas! This is my favorite sedge!) Tinged with red-purple at the base and on the sheaths. Light purple-brown flowers on showy flower spikes.

Carex are larval host to skipper butterflies, attract butterflies and feed turtles. Who wouldn’t want a turtle in their garden? 😊

Prefers moist to average soil but will tolerate drier soil. Slow growing, clump forming, can be divided regularly.

Height: 0.5-1 ft.
Spread: 1.5-2 ft.
Family: Cyperaceae Bloom time: May
Sun: part shade to full shade
Water: medium
According to Rutgers University, Carex are “rarely damaged” by deer.
Groundcover, naturalize

“Sedges have edges, rushes are round, grasses are hollow, straight to the ground.”

photo credit: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova