Sedge

Although it looks like an ornamental grass, most of which need full sun and thrive in hot, dry conditions, clump-forming sedge is completely different. For one thing, it's a sedge, not an ornamental grass. And it prefers shade along with moist soils (making it a great plant to tuck among the hostas).

But like an ornamental grass, sedge has colorful arching foliage, most notably in beautiful glowing yellows, that is evergreen in warm climates and semievergreen in cold areas.

Light:

Part Sun,Shade

Zones:

5-9

Plant Type:

Perennial

Plant Height:

6-30 inches tall

Plant Width:

6-30 inches wide

Bloom Time:

Grown for foliage rather than flowers

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders,Slopes,Groundcover

Special Features:

Attractive Foliage,Winter Interest,Tolerates Wet Soil,Deer Resistant

Top Varieties

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'Bowles Golden' tufted sedge

Carex elata 'Bowles Golden' has slender, bright golden green foliage. Plants form fountains of golden yellow that are 30 inches tall. Zones 5-8
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'Fox Red' curly sedge

Carex buchananii 'Fox Red' has upright, arching bronze foliage that reaches 30 inches tall. Its unique foliage color is an attention-grabber. Zones 5-9
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Golden sedge

Carex elata 'Aurea' lights up dark corners with its yellow-edged bright green leaves. It grows about 2 feet tall. Zones 5-9
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Island Brocade sedge

Carex ciliatomarginata 'Shima-nishiki' (sometimes also called Island Brocade Carex siderosticha), forms a dense groundcover with variegated leaves 6 to 9 inches long. Zones 5-8
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Japanese grass sedge

Carex morrowii forms 18-inch-tall clumps with 1/2-inch-wide glistening green leaves. Zones 5-9
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Variegated Japanese grass sedge

Carex morrowii 'Variegata' differs from the species in having a broad white stripe down the center of each leaf. Zones 5-9
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Variegated Japanese sedge

Carex oshimensis 'Evergold', sometimes called Carex hachijoensis, is a low-growing plant with creamy yellow variegation. It is hardy in Zones 6-9.
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Garden Plans

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Garden Design for a Deck
Bird-Friendly Garden
Waterside Retreat Garden Plan
Garden Plan for Attracting Birds and Butterflies

Plant It With

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Hosta

The bold foliage of hosta makes a dramatic contrast to the grassy foliage of sedges. Combine contrasting shades of green for added effect.

Iris

The upright grasslike leaves of Siberian iris team well with the arching leaves of sedges. Both appreciate moist soil in semishade.

Propagation

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Division