All About Grasses, Sedges, Rushes, Restios & Cattails Part 2

Bothriochloa Kuntze Grass family, Poaceae

Approximately 35 species of perennial, warm-season growers of wide distribution in open habitats in warm-temperate and tropical regions, sometimes cultivated for forage. Very closely related to Andropogon.

Bothriochloa barbinodis (Lagasca) Herter [Andropogon barbinodis Lagasca] Silver beardgrass, cane bluestem Native on dry slopes and gravelly places in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, and California, south into Mexico. Strictly clump-forming, upright, to 2 to 4 feet (60-120 cm) tall. Softly silky inflorescences are produced anytime from May to October, held above the foliage on slender stalks. They are slender and silver at first, becoming more feathery and translucent at maturity and after drying, and can be very dramatic when backlit. Stems are lax after flowering. Very drought tolerant, but will remain semievergreen in more moist locations. Well suited to drifts and sweeps in meadow gardens. Propagate by seed. Zone 7.

Bothriochloa ischaemum (Linnaeus) Keng [Andropogon ischaemum Linnaeus] Yellow bluestem Originally from sunny, dry habitats in Europe but now widely distributed in Eurasia and northern Africa. The stems of this upright, clump-forming perennial are green with strong secondary yellow tones. Grows to 2V2 feet (75 cm) tall when flowering in mid summer. Inflorescences open red, then dry to silver. Readily propagated by seed. Zone 6.

Bouteloua Lagasca Grass family, Poaceae Grama, grama grass Named for Spanish botanist brothers Claudio and Esteban Boutelou. Comprises nearly 40 annual and perennial species native to dry hills, plains, and other open grasslands in the Americas, from Canada to Argentina. Many species are from the southwestern United States, and the following two perennial, warm-season growers were important components of the historic North American shortgrass prairie. Also known as the Great Plains, this area is warmer and drier than the tallgrass prairie region. Grama grasses are important forage species.

Bouteloua curtipendula (Michaux) Torrey

Side-oats grama Native to dry, often rocky or gravelly habitats in North America from Ontario to Southern California and south to Argentina. The common name refers to the oatlike spikelets, which are attached along one side of the inflorescences. The flowering stalks ascend vertically or arch above the basal mound of gray-green foliage, to a height of 3 feet (90 cm). Begins blooming in early summer and often flowers continuously until late summer if moisture is sufficient. Spikelets are purplish at first, bleaching to straw color as they age. Autumn foliage colors include bronze-purple, orange, and red. Prefers full sun but will grow in light shade. Tolerant of a range of soils and of extended dry periods. Single plants are subtly attractive, and broad drifts can be quite dramatic. A fine addition to a meadow garden but will be overwhelmed by other grasses in moist settings. Propagate by seed sown in early spring, or by division. Zone 4.

Mountain mist grass, Blepharoneuron tricholepis, blooms in mid summer in a New Mexico garden.

New flowers of Both-riochloa barbinodis are silver against the blue-gray mountain background in late June in the meadow at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden in California.

Backlit Bothrio-chloa barbinodis brightens a path at Leaning Pine Arboretum in San Luis Obispo, California, in late June.

Bothriochloa ischaemum blooming in late August at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in England.

Bouteloua gracilis (Humboldt, Bonpland & Kunth) Griffiths [Bouteloua oligostachya Torrey ex A. Gray] Blue grama, mosquito grass Native to dry plains from Wisconsin to Manitoba south to Southern California and Texas. Usually only 8 to 15 inches (20-38 cm) tall in full flower, this diminutive grass blooms from June through September. The curious flowers are suspended horizontally like tiny brushes from the tip of each flowering stem, strongly red-tinted at first, bleaching to straw color and often curling as they dry. Prefers full sun. Can also be planted densely to create a low, casual no-mow ground- cover or mowed occasionally to 2 or 3 inches (5-8 cm) to provide a water-conserving lawn that will tolerate a considerable amount of foot traffic. Semievergreen in mild climates, winter dormant in cold climates. Easily propagated by seed. Zone 3.

Boutel-oua curtipendula blooms in light shade in early September at the Delaware Center for Horticulture in Wilmington.

Spike-lets of Bouteloua curtipendula are arranged along one side of the inflorescences.

Inflorescences of Bouteloua gracilis appear to be swarming above the foliage in mid-August in northern Germany.

 

Bouteloua gracilis makes an attractive, water-conserving lawn at the Denver Botanic Gardens in Colorado.

Brachypodium P. Beauvois

Grass family, Poaceae Approximately 18 mostly Eurasian annual and perennial species. The following two European species have the potential to be biologically invasive in some parts of the world, but in others they are manageable and useful in difficult growing conditions.

Brachypodium pinnatum (Linnaeus) P. Beauvois

Heath false-brome, chalk false-brome Of European origin, occurring naturally in shaded and open habitats including forest edges, open woods, and grasslands. Grows mostly upright, 1 to 4 feet (30-120 cm) tall. Tolerates dry shade and can withstand moisture competition from tree roots. Easily grown from seed. Zone 4.

Brachypodium sylvaticum (Hudson) P. Beauvois

Slender false-brome This European species is native to woodlands and other shady places, growing as far north as Norway. Clump-forming and mostly upright, 1 to 3 feet (30-90 cm) tall. It self-sows readily and has naturalized widely, including in parts of the U.S. Pacific Northwest, where it has become a noxious weed. In dry, shady European gardens it is quite manageable and one of the few grasses that will tolerate difficult low-light conditions. Zone 3.

Bouteloua gracilis grows naturally on a dry slope at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico, its inflorescences dry and characteristically curled in mid February.

Brachypodium pinnatum at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in late August.

Brachypodium sylvati-cum grows in very dry shade under a large tree in the Cloister garden in Weihenstephan, Germany, in late August.

Briza Linnaeus Grass family, Poaceae Quaking grass

Comprises 20 annual and perennial species native to grasslands in temperate Eurasia and South America, and widely introduced elsewhere primarily for their ornamental flower spikelets. Briza media is perennial. Two annual species are also cultivated in gardens: B. maxima Linnaeus, greater quaking grass, a Mediterranean native with larger spikelets, and B. minor Linnaeus, lesser quaking grass, a Eurasian native with smaller spikelets.

Briza media Linnaeus Common quaking grass, rattle grass, pearl grass, shivering grass, trembling grass, cow quakes, didder, totter, dillies, doddering dickies The plethora of vernacular names speaks of the broad ability of this grass to entertain and amuse. This cool-season Eurasian native is common nearly throughout the British Isles on a variety of grassland soils from light to heavy, dry to damp, and acidic to calcareous. Diffusely branched inflorescences to 21/2 feet (75 cm) tall are produced in late spring, tipped with pendant spikelets resembling puffy oats. They rattle and rustle delightfully in spring and summer breezes and make superb cut flowers. Opening green with tints of red-purple, they bleach to light straw color by mid summer. Clump-forming, producing a dense tuft of soft, deep green foliage that is semievergreen even in cold climates. No appreciable fall color. Reliable and easy to grow in full sun or light shade. Tolerant of poorly drained, heavy soils and also somewhat drought-tolerant. By late summer the flowering stalks are in disarray and are best cut back. Shearing foliage lightly at this time encourages new growth that will remain attractive into winter. Durable and long-lived. Sweeps and masses planted for flowers also double as groundcovers. Zone 4.

'Russells'. Striped quaking grass. A strong grower with neatly white-variegated leaves. Zone 4.

Bromus Linnaeus Grass family, Poaceae Brome, bromegrass, chess From the Greek bromos, oat. Approximately 150 annual and perennial species widely distributed mostly in north-temperate regions.

Bromus inermis Leysser

Smooth brome, smooth bromegrass Native to Europe, Siberia, Mongolia, and Manchuria, this perennial, cool-season grower is mostly clump-forming but does spread by creeping rhizomes. Widely valued as a hay and pasture grass, it has been introduced to the western United States and is now naturalized in many places. Though highly valued for forage, it is of landscape importance only for the following variegated cultivar. Zone 3.

The drying flowers of Briza media are still neatly attractive in July at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. The basal foliage remains appealing year-round in cool mild climates.

 

Spikelets of Briza media are green with red-purple tints in early June in Chicago.

Briza media 'Russells' at Knoll Gardens near Wimborne, England, in mid August.

'Skinner's Gold'. Striped brome. The yellow and green-striped leaves of this cultivar are among the most vibrantly colored of all grasses during cool parts of the year. The color dulls and growth becomes lax and unkempt in summer heat and humidity. Grows to 3 feet (90 cm) tall in bloom. Flowers from spring through summer with adequate moisture, though flowering interest is minimal and secondary to the foliage color. Not particular to soil type. Prefers full sun or very light shade in warmer climates. Zone 4.

Bromus riparius Rehmann

Meadow brome, meadow bromegrass This species is also a perennial, cool-season Eurasian native, typically growing in sunny, often moist meadow habitats. Tightly clump-forming, it produces a dense basal tuft of blue-green foliage that is overtopped by delicate inflorescences in late spring and early summer. Usually grown for forage, but drought-tolerant and attractive enough for gardens. Zone 3.

Buchloe Engelmann Grass family, Poaceae Buffalo grass

The genus name is contracted from boubalos, buffalo, and chloe, grass. Comprises only one North American species native to dry plains.

Buchloe dactyloides (Nuttall) Engelmann Buffalo grass

The sod houses of early North American settlers were mostly made of buffalo grass sod. This warm-season grower was once dominant over dry upland areas of the Great Plains, which is known colloquially as shortgrass country or the shortgrass prairie. Buffalo grass ranges naturally from Minnesota to Montana south to Iowa, Texas, western Louisiana, Arizona, and northern Mexico, and is still a very important grazing grass in this region. Strongly stoloniferous, it forms a low, dense gray-green turf that can stand considerable foot traffic. It is extraordinarily drought-tolerant and is continually gaining in popularity as a water-conserving lawn substitute in dry regions. Grows 4 to 8 inches (10-20 cm), and can be left unmowed or mowed occasionally. Deciduous, turning light brown in winter but returning to green earlier in spring than Saint Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum ) or Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon). Its texture is much finer and more pleasant for barefoot strolling. The species is dioecious, with separate male and female plants.

Bromus inermis 'Skinner's Gold' in late July at Merriments Gardens in East Sussex, England.

Bromus riparius at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in late August.

Selections developed for lawn use are often vegetatively propagated female clones which grow lower, are more uniform, and are pollen-free. Usually purchased as sod, these include '609', 'Prairie', and 'Stampede'. Recommended seed varieties include 'Cody' and 'Tatanka'. Seeding is best done in early spring.

Prefers full sun and will grow on heavy, compacted soils. Not salt-tolerant. Will go dormant in extended summer drought. Supplemental moisture will keep it green but too much water will be injurious. Zone 4.

Male plants of Buchloe dactyloides are 8 inches (20 cm) tall in late August in Hans Simon's "praerie" garden at the Berggarten in Hanover, Germany.

Buffalo grass, Buchloe dactyloides, forms a neat lawn at the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas, in early April.

Calamagrostis Adanson

Grass family, Poaceae

Reed grass

Name from Greek kalamos, reed, and agrostis, a kind of grass. Comprises approximately 230 perennial species both clump-forming and running, occurring in diverse habitats in north-temperate regions including woodlands, meadows, and marshes, in wet-to-average moisture conditions and in both shade and sun. Many produce upright, feathery inflorescences that are spectacular when sunlit. Though the Eurasian species are most often cultivated, the western North American species deserve more attention.

Calamagrostis xacutiflora (Schrader) De Candolle

Feather-reed grass This hybrid of Calamagrostis epigejos and C. arundinacea occurs naturally but infrequently in Europe. Both parents self-sow prolifically; however, the hybrid rarely produces fertile seeds and that is a great part of its appeal for garden and landscape use. Like both parents, the hybrid is a cool-season grower, typically flowering in very late spring or early summer. Its form is even more upright than either parent and it is a tight clump-former. For many years, a plant representing this cross was known as C. epigejos 'Hortorum' and was propagated by division. The renowned German nurseryman Karl Foerster first recognized the hybrid nature and called the plant C. xacutiflora 'Stricta'. Though in popular use for many years, the Latinized cultivar name 'Stricta' doesn't fit nomenclatural rules. The name 'Karl Foerster' has since been applied and is correct for Karl Foerster's feather-reed grass. Other variegated selections have since been made. Zone 4.

'Avalanche'. Variegated feather-reed grass. The center medians are white in this introduction by nurseryman Steve Schmidt of Oregon. Zone 4.

'Eldorado'. Gold variegated feather-reed grass. The center medians are bright yellow-green. Plant patent applied for (PPAF). Zone 5.

'Karl Foerster' ('Stricta'). Karl Foerster's feather-reed grass. Beautiful, versatile, and nearly care-free, this is understandably one of the most popular garden grasses worldwide. The deep green, lustrous foliage of this cool-season grower is effective by late winter or early spring, and lasts well into the following winter, especially in milder climates. Clump-forming and strictly upright, producing vertical inflorescences up to 6 feet (1.8 m) that are loosely feathered and subtly purplish when they first appear in mid June. By August they become narrow vertical plumes of a delicate buff color, remaining upright and attractive through most of winter. This limber grass is one of the best for introducing motion to the garden; it moves gracefully with even a barely perceptible breeze. It always regains its upright posture even after heavy rains and never needs staking. Effective when planted singly as a specimen or vertical accent, or in sweeps and masses. Makes a fine deciduous screen due to fast growth, reliability, and multiseason duration. Virtual sterility recommends it for large-scale residential or commercial use without fear of compromising adjacent natural areas. No appreciable fall foli- age color. Grows best in full sun on well-drained fertile soils with adequate moisture, but will tolerate heavy clays and light shade. A true cool-season grower, it suffers in extended summer heat, and sometimes is susceptible to disfiguring foliar rust diseases in hot, wet summers, especially if air circulation is poor. Best cut back to about 5 inches (13 cm) in late winter. Divide or transplant in spring or fall. Plants displayed in containers will often survive winters without protection.

Calamagrostis xacutiflora 'Karl Foerster' paints a portrait of the wind in mid June at Chanticleer in Wayne, Pennsylvania.

Dry flowers of Calamagrostis xacutiflora 'Karl Foerster' flicker like candles in the September sun.

Cala-magrostis xacutiflora 'Overdam' at Merriments Gardens in East Sussex, England, in late July.

'Overdam'. Variegated feather-reed grass. Similar to 'Karl Foerster' except the leaves are longitudinally striped cream-white especially at the edges, and both foliage and flowers are less robust. The variegation is most pronounced in climates similar to that of northern Europe, with relatively low humidity and cool summer nights. This cultivar really suffers in hot, humid weather. Zone 4.

Calamagrostis arundinacea (Linnaeus) Roth

Feather-reed grass This Eurasian native occurs naturally in forest gaps and lightly shaded habitats. It self-sows readily and is often a pioneer species in disturbed woodlands and edge habitats. An upright clump-former, it is best known as one of the parents of the cultivated hybrid Calamagrostis xacutiflora. Tolerates sun or shade, moist or dry conditions. Zone 5.

Calamagrostis brachytricha Steudel [Calamagrostis arundinacea var. brachytricha (Steudel) Hackel]

Korean feather-reed grass, diamond grass Distinct from the commonly cultivated European species, this Asian native typically flowers in late August or September. It occurs naturally in moist deciduous woodlands and wood edges. Most or all of the material in cultivation in Western gardens was introduced from Korea by Richard Lighty of Pennsylvania while on a plant-hunting trip for Longwood Gardens in September 1966. Lighty collected divisions of a plant growing at 2850 feet (850 m) elevation along a small streambank on Tok Yu Mountain in central South Korea. This clump-forming, shade-tolerant grass grows to 4 feet (1.2 m) tall in flower. It is most upright and heavily flowered in sun, and tends to be somewhat lax in shade. To Vi inch (12 mm) wide and glossy green, the leaves are wider and the foliage more coarse-textured than Calamagrostis x acutiflora. The inflorescences open with a strong purple-red tint, remaining open and feathery even when dry. Fall foliage color is an undistinguished yellow, and plants are completely dormant in winter. Easily grown on a range of soils in partial shade or in full sun if provided with sufficient moisture. Self-sows in moist, shady situations to a minor extent but is easily managed. Best propagated by seed. Can be divided in spring. Zone 4.

A sweep of Calamagrostis xacutiflora 'Karl Foer-ster' at Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City, Utah, catches the late afternoon light in mid August.

New flowers of Calamagrostis brachytricha are strongly tinted pink-purple in late August at the Berggarten in Hanover, Germany.

Luminous inflorescences of Cala-magrostis brachytricha catch the early September sun in northern Delaware.  

Calamagrostis canadensis catches the mid-July sun in Washtenaw County, Michigan.

Calamagrostis canadensis (Michaux) P. Beauvois

Bluejoint, bluejoint reedgrass This sod-forming grass is the most common and widespread of the North American Calamagrostis species. It is native to marshes, wet places, open woods, and meadows from Greenland to Alaska and south in the United States to California, New Mexico, Missouri, Kansas, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Bluejoint spreads by rhizomes and often forms large, long-persistent colonies. Reaches 3 to 5 feet (90-150 cm) tall when flowering in early summer. Prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade. Grows best in moist to wet conditions. Self-sows readily. Divide in spring or fall. Zone 3.

Calamagrostis epigejos (Linnaeus) Roth

Feather-reed grass, wood small-reed, bush grass Though upright in stance, this Eurasian native spreads strongly by rhizomes and often forms large clumps or masses. One of the parents of the cultivated hybrid Calamagrostis x acu-tiflora, it is a common pioneer species in disturbed woodlands and open waste places in northern Europe. Tolerates sun or shade, moist or dry conditions. Self-sows readily. Propagate by seed or division. Zone 5.

Calamagrostis foliosa Kearney Mendocino reed grass, Cape Mendocino reedgrass, leafy reedgrass

The low, mounded form of this cool-season California native is unique among North American Calamagrostis species. Occurs naturally on coastal bluffs, cliffs, scrub, and other open rocky places in the northern California counties of Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte, growing 10 to 15 inches (25-38 cm) tall when blooming in spring. Clump-forming, with glaucous foliage that often appears quite gray-blue and generally persists year-round. Prefers light shade but will grow in full sun if moisture is adequate. Additional moisture will extend the flowering period into summer. Tolerates a moderate amount of salt spray. Propagate by seed or division. Zone 8, possibly colder.

Calamagrostis nutkaensis (C. Presl) Steudel

Pacific reed grass Native along North America's Pacific Coast in moist habitats from Alaska to Central California. Tufted and clump-forming to 3 to 5 feet (90-150 cm) tall when flowering. Feathery inflorescences open purplish in spring, drying to straw color. The foliage is relatively coarse and medium green, and in mild climates is semievergreen. Does well in full sun on moist soil but is better adapted to shaded conditions in drier conditions. Somewhat salt-tolerant. Propagate by seed or division. Zone 7.

Calamagrostis epigejos runs over disturbed ground in northern Germany in late August.

Pink-tinted inflorescences emerge above the glaucous foliage of Calamagrostis foliosa in early April at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden in California.

By mid June the inflorescences of Calama-grostis foliosa are dry and luminous, appearing much like a fountain fireworks rising from this neatly mounded grass.

Calamagrostis ophitidis (J. Howell) Nygren

Serpentine reed grass This uncommon species occurs on well-drained, rocky serpentine soils at mid to high elevations in northern California. Tufted and strictly clump-forming to 3 feet (90 cm) tall in flower. Forms a dense tuft of basal foliage from which strictly upright flowering stalks emerge in spring. New foliage is green in late winter and spring, and is increasingly suffused with warm tones as summer progresses. Requires sharp drainage. Propagate by seed or division. Zone 8.

Calamagrostis nut-kaensis blooms in mid June in a sunny location at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden in California

Calamagrostis nutkaensis flowers in mid June in the shade of large oaks at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

Calamagrostis ophitidis in mid August at the University of California Botanical Garden, Berkeley.

Carex Linnaeus Sedge family, Cyperaceae Sedge

In the broad sense, sedge refers to any of the nearly 4000 species in the sedge family, but in the usual, narrower sense, the word refers to any of the more than 1000 species comprising the huge genus Carex. The species are often intergrading and highly variable, resulting in frequently confused identifications and an unusually unstable nomenclature. The majority of cultivated Carex species originate from moist or wet habitats in the world's temperate regions, and most are evergreen or semievergreen, but they are so diverse in habit, size, form, color, and flowers that it is difficult to make general statements about them. Flowers are often visually insignificant; however, some are quite showy. Foliage colors match or exceed the diversity found in grasses, including myriad greens, blues, yellows, browns, and oranges as well as bold variegations. The New Zealand sedges alone include a remarkable array of colors from medium green to light green or nearly white, orange to dark red, and bronze-green to copper, metallic tan, or root beer brown. The latter are sometimes humorously referred to as the "dead sedges" for obvious reasons, but are distinctively attractive unless displayed against mulch. Many sedges are clump-formers but others are aggressive runners. Although most Carex species do best in organic soils with plentiful moisture, others are naturally adapted to sunny, dry, alkaline conditions. Together they offer a multitude of choices for vegetating gardens and managed landscapes of all types.

Carex alba Scopoli White sedge

This fine-textured green-leaved species is a good example of one of the many durable, useful sedges that are often overlooked because they are not variegated or otherwise colorful. Occurring in limestone regions on dry, often stony or sandy soils from southern Europe through the Caucasus and into Manchuria and Siberia, white sedge is adapted to harsh conditions and can keep the ground attractively covered in many difficult situations. Grows 4 to 12 inches (10-30 cm) tall and spreads by rhizomes, in sun or partial shade. Zone 5.

Carex albicans Willdenow ex Sprengel

Whitetinge sedge It would be easy to mistake this clump-forming eastern North American native sedge for a grass: its leaves are so slender and the plant is so low. The foliage is only 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm) tall, with spring flowers an inch or two above that. Durable, shade-tolerant, and semievergreen, it is an attractive presence in woodland landscapes. The typical variety, Carex albicans var. albicans, grows mostly in upland, often calcareous deciduous woods from Massachusetts to South Carolina and west to Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. Carex albicans var. emmonsii (Dewey) Rettig is more common on acidic soils along the coastal plain, but ranges inland to Indiana and Illinois. Both can be propagated by seed, or by division in spring. Tolerant of dry shade. Zone 4.

Carex alba carpets the corner of shaded walkways at the Berggarten in Hanover, Germany, in late August, growing across from North American native white wood aster, Aster divaricatus.

Carex alba in late August at the Berggarten.

Carex albula Allan Blonde sedge

The leaves of this South Island New Zealand native are light buff to near-white. Strictly clump-forming, it produces a neat mound of fine-textured foliage 10 to 18 inches (25-45 cm) tall. Inflorescences are produced on stalks that are shorter than the leaves, so they are never very noticeable. This distinct species is often confused in commerce with Carex comans 'Frosted Curls'; however, the cultivar is lower-growing, more sprawling, and never quite as white as true C. albula. Easily grown from seed or may be divided in spring. Zone 7.

Carex appalachica J. Webber & P. W. Ball

Appalachian sedge Though its natural range extends from Maine and Quebec to Ohio and south in uplands to North Carolina and Tennessee, this fine-textured clump-forming species is never common, and has been listed in some regions as threatened or endangered. It is superficially similar to the common Carex radiata from which it can be distinguished only by small differences in floral morphological detail; however, C. radiata tends toward more moist environments. Carex appalachica grows naturally in average to dry woods, often in heavily shaded conditions and this combined with its clumping nature make it a useful plant for woodland landscapes and a distinct alternative to the running species C. pensylvanica. Propagate by seed, or by division in spring. Zone 4.

Carex albicans blooms 6 inches (15 cm) tall in mid April in deciduous woods in eastern Pennsylvania, as its new foliage adds a cheerful bright green to the awakening landscape.

Only 4 inches (10 cm) tall, Carex albicans (center) is similar in texture to C. appalachica (young plant at left) but contrasts dramatically with C. flaccosperma (at right) in the author's Pennsylvania garden in mid November.

Carex albula in early April at Berkeley Horticultural Nursery in Berkeley, California.

Carex baccans Nees ex Wright

Crimson-seeded sedge An unusual sedge known for its bright red seeds. A lax, coarse-textured plant, with medium-green leaves ^2 inch (12 mm) wide topped in summer by flowering stems to 3 feet (90 cm) tall. Seeds begin green, maturing to red by late autumn and remaining colorful during winter in mild climates. Prefers partial shade, fertile soil, with plenty of moisture. Well adapted to streamside locations. Propagate by seed or division in spring. Zone 8.

Carex baltzellii Chapman ex Dewey

Baltzell's sedge This relatively rare forest native typically occurs on sloping sandy loam in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi. Little known in cultivation, it has attractive glaucous blue-green foliage and heat and shade tolerance that make it a promising choice for dry woodland gardens in the southeastern United States and other warm-temperate regions. To 8 inches (20 cm) tall, with leaves V4 inch (6 mm) wide. Zone 8.

Carex 'Beatlemania'

Fab Four sedge This mop-headed sedge originated as a sport of Carex 'The Beatles' and is identical to it except that the leaf margins are green-gold variegated. Grows 6 inches (15 cm) tall. Although frequently sold as C. caryophyllea, it is probably a hybrid of C. digitata and C. ornithopoda. Zone 4.

Carex berggrenii Petrie

Nutbrown sedge Native to New Zealand's South Island, typically growing in moist to wet ground in bogs, river flats, and lake margins. The lowest growing of the cultivated New Zealand sedges, this species rarely exceeds 4 inches (10 cm) in height. The leaves are flat and bronze or red-brown in color. Spreads slowly by rhizomes to form patches. Prefers full sun but requires moist conditions. Propagate by seed or division. Zone 5.

Carex baccans in early February at the University of California Botanical Garden, Berkeley. above Ripening seeds of Carex baccans.

 

Carexbuchananii in early September (spring) at Her-onswood Gardens on Australia's Mornington Peninsula.  

Carex brunnea 'Jenneke' in late August at the Royal Horticultural Society Garden, Wisley, in Surrey, England.

Carex brunnea Thunberg

This tussock-forming species has a wide distribution, occurring in China, Japan, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, and New Caledonia. The evergreen foliage is typically solid green, growing to 2V2 feet (75 cm) tall. The specific epithet means brown, referring to the color of the flower spikes; however, this sedge is cultivated almost exclusively for the strikingly variegated selections. Prefers moist, well-drained soil, in sun or partial shade.

'Jenneke'. Leaves bright green-yellow with dark green edges. To 15 inches (43 cm) tall. Zone 8.

'Variegata'. Leaves green with cream-white edges. Zone 8.

Carex buchananii Berggren

Leatherleaf sedge One of the best-known and most popular of the New Zealand species, tufted and erect in growth, especially when young. The narrow foliage is copper-bronze to cinnamon-colored, to 2 feet (60 cm) tall, often curled at the tips. Grows best in full sun and is quite drought-tolerant. This and the other bronze-leaved New Zealand sedges truly require a contrasting background if they are to be effective in the garden. Viewed against brown mulch or soil, they look dead. Gravel or pebble mulches or silver-leaved groundcovers best bring out their unique foliage colors. Good drainage is essential for winter hardiness in colder zones. Propagate by seed, or by division in spring. Zone 7.

Carex caryophyllea Latourrette Spring sedge

A European native, occurring in calcareous grasslands and on acidic mountain soils. Leaves typically dark green, recurving, up to 12 inches (30 cm). Zone 7. The cultivars 'Bea-tlemania' and 'The Beatles', often offered under this species, are probably hybrids of Carex digitata and C. ornithopoda.

Carex castanea Wahl

Chestnut sedge Native to swamps, bogs, wet meadows, and margins of coniferous woods from Newfoundland to Ontario and south to Connecticut, Michigan, and Minnesota. Forming a neat, low mound of foliage less than 6 inches (15 cm) tall and 1 foot (30 cm) or more wide, this hardy clump-former is a durable addition to the woodland garden. New leaves are bright green, maturing to glossy dark green. Foliage is essentially evergreen. Flowering stems, produced in spring, are fine-textured and do not detract from the neat appearance of the foliage. Prefers moist organic soil but is fairly drought tolerant once established. Grows best in light shade. Propagate by seed, or by division in spring. Zone 3.

Carex ciliatomarginata Nakai [Carexsiderosticha var. pilosa Leveille]

Smaller creeping broad-leaved sedge, Ke tagane-so Very similar to Carex siderosticha but with leaf blades smaller and long ciliate (finely hairy) on the lower margins. Native to dry, shaded grassy places in the mountains of Japan, and also in China and Korea. Creeps slowly by rhizomes to form a dense mat. Prefers fertile soil of average moisture, but will tolerate considerable dryness. Will grow in sun with adequate water, but is tolerant of considerable shade. Easily propagated by division, or by seed. Zone 5.

'Shima Nishiki' (island brocade). Leaves mostly green at center with bright yellow margins. To 4 inches (10 cm) tall. Zone 5.

'Treasure Island'. Leaves mostly green at center with longitudinal white stripes especially at the margins. To 4 inches (10 cm) tall. Plant patent applied for (PPAF). Zone 5.

Carex comans Berggren

New Zealand hairy sedge, mop-headed sedge Native to New Zealand's North and South Islands, except for the extreme wet south end of the South Island which is known as Fiordland. Grows in damp open places and in openings in the forest. This densely tufted clump-forming species produces a mop of fine foliage 12 to 16 inches (3040 cm) tall, but the flowering stems often extend in fruiting stage, sprawling over the ground 3 feet (90 cm) or more from the center. The foliage varies from bronze to red-bronze to pale green and is often distinctively curled although less so than Carex buchananii. Grows best in sun but will tolerate light shade. Also withstands considerable drought once established. Requires well-drained conditions for long life. Propagate by seed, or by division to retain foliage character and color. Zone 7.

Carex castanea blooms in early May in the author's Pennsylvania garden. The bright color of the new leaves will mature to dark green by late spring.

The typical green form of Carex ciliatomarginata (right foreground) grows under the shade of Japanese cedar, Cryptomeriajaponica; along with Christmas fern, Polysti-chum acrostichoides (upper left and center); and broad-leaved Tellima grandiflora (left center) in the author's Pennsylvania garden in early November.

 

Carex ciliatomarginata 'Shima Nishiki' in hanging planters at Terra Nova Nurseries in Oregon in mid May.

Carex ciliatomarginata 'Treasure Island' in May.

'Bronze'. Leaves rich bronze with pink tints, although this name is something of a catchall for bronze forms, which often come more-or-less true from seed.

'Frosted Curls'. Leaves very pale green, even paler toward the ends. Plants truly representing this clonal cultivar were discovered at Cape Egmont in New Zealand by nurseryman Terry Hatch and introduced to cultivation through his Joy Plants nursery in 1975. Since then many seedlings and wild-collected pale green forms have been introduced to commerce, often sold as 'Frosted Curls' or 'Frosty Curls'. The name is also sometimes used for plants of Carex albula although these lack the characteristic curling of C. comans.

'Milk Chocolate'. Leaves rich brown. Of uncertain species origin, but likely belonging here.

Carex comans 'Frosted Curls' (foreground) with C. buchananii (behind) and other plants in late August in California

A rich bronze seedling of Carex comans in mid July at Adrian Bloom's garden in Bressingham, England

Curled leaf tips on Carex comans 'Frosted Curls' are characteristic of the species.

Carex conica Boott

Hime-kan-suge Common in open woods on hillsides and low mountains in Japan, also native to southern Korea. Densely tufted, forming a neat mound of narrow, glossy green foliage. Leaves 3/16 inch (4 mm) wide. Only the following variegated selection is commonly cultivated.

'Snowline' ('Variegata', 'Marginata'). Leaves deep green with crisp white margins. Long-lived but slow to increase in size. Provided good soil and adequate moisture, this durable sedge can grow to 15 inches (38 cm) tall by 24 inches (60 cm) wide. Planted closely, it makes a fine groundcover. Best in light shade in climates with strong summer sun. Fully evergreen in mild climates. Zone 5.

Carex crinita Lamarck Fringed sedge

Native to wet woods and swales in eastern North America. A large species, clump-forming and upright-arching in habit, to 4 feet (1.2 m) tall. Produced in early summer, the long-pendant inflorescences last into autumn. An architectural plant that moves gracefully with woodland breezes. Attains greatest size in a moist or wet shady site, but can be grown on soils of average moisture in partial sun or shade. Propagate by seed, or by division in spring. Zone 5.

Carex digitalis Willdenow

Finger sedge, slender woodland sedge Native to dry woods from Maine to Florida and west to Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, and eastern Texas. This widely distributed clump-forming species is very adaptable, growing in sun or shade, and in moist or dry conditions. It forms a neat mound of dark green foliage up to 8 inches (20 cm) high, topped by subtly attractive flowering stems in early spring. Often occurs with and sometimes hybridizes with Carex laxiculmis. An easy, durable sedge for woodland or woods-edge landscapes. Readily propagated by seed, or by division in spring. Zone 4.

Carex conica 'Snowline' covers shaded ground at the Berg-garten in Hanover, Germany, in late August.

Fringed sedge, Carex crinita, blooms in mid June in a moist deciduous woodland in northern Delaware.

Carex digitalis grows in moss under the deciduous forest canopy at the Mount Cuba Center in northern Delaware in early October.

Carex digitata Linnaeus Fingered sedge

This narrow-leaved, low-growing woodland species is widespread in Europe and ranges eastward to Siberia. It is durable and long-lived, forming dense tussocks up to 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter. Although this species is not commonly cultivated, Carex 'Beatlemania' and C. 'The Beatles' are likely hybrids between C. digitata and C. ornithopoda. Zone 4.

Carex dipsacea Berggren

Another New Zealand native, occurring in moist habitats on both North and South Islands. Densely tufted, 1 to 2 feet (30-60 cm) tall. Upright in habit, similar to Carex testacea, but with leaves typically light green or reddish. Zone 7.

Carex divulsa Stokes [Carex tumulicola hort.] Berkeley sedge, grassland sedge, gray sedge Naturally occurring in dry, typically calcareous, open habitats, this widespread European species forms dense, spreading clumps and is a real workhorse in the garden. It has been grown for years in California and other parts of the southwestern United States as Carex tumulicola, a similar-looking California species. The true identity of material in cultivation was determined in 2005 by University of Michigan sedge specialist Tony Reznicek. Evergreen, with deep solid green foliage forming an exceptionally dense, slowly spreading clump 12 to 18 inches (30-45 cm) tall. Grows in dry, shaded sites or in full sun with average moisture. Drought-tolerant once established, but will also tolerate moist to occasionally wet conditions. Self-sows into areas where moisture is plentiful, but is very contained in dry sites. Propagate by seed or division. Zone 4.

Carex dolichostachya Hayata

Miyama kan suge Native to mountain woods in Japan and Taiwan. The Japanese vernacular name refers to Miyama-cho, a mountainous area north of Kyoto. Mostly clump-forming, although creeping forms occur. Typically green-leaved, 10 to 18 inches (2545 cm) tall. Fine-textured and shade-tolerant. Represented in cultivation mostly by the variegated form. Zone 5.

'Kaga Nishiki' ('Gold Fountains' is a commercial synonym). Kaga brocade sedge. A distinct selection from Kenji Watanabe's Gotemba Nursery in Japan, introduced to the United States by Barry Yinger. In Japanese, Kaga is the old name for the Ishikawa Prefecture and nishiki means brocade, a fitting description of the lacy beauty of this finely gold-variegated sedge. Leaves to 3/16 inch (4 mm) wide, medium green in the center and gold at the edges, forming a symmetrical fountainlike mound, eventually to 2 feet (60 cm) in diameter. Long-lived and durable, suited for accent or groundcover sweeps. Fully evergreen into Zone 6. Prefers fertile organic soils and light shade or full sun with adequate moisture. Fairly drought tolerant in shade once established. Propagate by division in spring. Zone 5.

Berkeley sedge, Carex divulsa, in dry shade at Leaning Pine Arboretum in San Luis Obispo, California, in early April.

Carex dolichostachya 'Kaga Nishiki' in partial shade in late June at the Delaware Center for Horticulture in Wilmington.

Carex eburnea Boott Ivory sedge

Native from Newfoundland to British Columbia south to Virginia, Missouri, Nebraska, and Texas mountains, in dry sand or especially on limestone bluffs and ledges. Very fine, almost needlelike foliage, in neat symmetrical clumps 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm) tall and soft green in color. Blooms in late spring. Slowly rhizomatous. Prefers sharply drained alkaline soil. Very drought tolerant and surprisingly heat-tolerant. Zone 4.

Carex elata Allioni [Carexstricta Goodenough, non Lamarck] European tussock sedge, tufted sedge Native to swamps, mires, fens, lake edges, and riverbanks in northern and eastern Europe. Forms dense tussocks, sometimes in extensive stands. Analogous in form and habitat to the North American Carex stricta Lamarck. Although handsome, the green-leaved species is not often cultivated. The variegated forms are among the most brightly colored of all sedges. Zone 5.

Carex elata 'Aurea' in Beth Chatto's garden in Colchester, England, in late July.

Carex elata 'Aurea' flanks stone steps in the Israelit garden in Portland, Oregon, in late July, with Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' planted just below it.

'Aurea' ('Bowles Golden'). Bowles' golden sedge. E. A. Bowles described his discovery as "a very beautiful sedge, with golden-striped leaves, another of my finds in the Norfolk Broads." Both gardener and amateur naturalist, Bowles saw value in the diversity of local plant communities. This graceful plant grows upright to 21/2 feet (75 cm). The leaves are up to 5/16 inch (8 mm) wide, mostly yellow with faint, random longitudinal green stripes. Yellow color is most intense in full sun. Foliage looks good through the growing season on plants at waterside, or even shallowly submerged. Burns if too dry, losing much appeal by late summer. Shady siting is necessary in drier soils, in which case leaves will be rich lime-yellow in color. Suffers in truly hot climates. Vertical inflorescences in early May are subtly attractive, soon disappearing amid developing foliage. Propagate by division in spring. Zone 5.

'Knightshayes'. Similar to 'Aurea' but leaves absolutely yellow. Named for the famed British Garden. Zone 5.

Carex firma Host

This tiny alpine species is native to high mountain grasslands in central Europe. Leaves blue-green, tufted, less than 4 inches (10 cm) tall. Sometimes grown in rock gardens, but most material in cultivation belongs to the following cultivar. Zone 6.

'Variegata'. Leaves striped cream-yellow. Zone 7.

Carex flacca Schreber [Carexglauca Scopoli]

Glaucous sedge, carnation-grass This European and northern African native occurs naturally in calcareous grasslands, on sand dunes, and in estuary marshes. It is naturalized in parts of eastern North America. A very variable species growing 6 to 24 inches (15-60 cm) tall, with leaves to 3/16 inch (4 mm) wide, sometimes green above and glaucous blue below, sometimes glaucous blue on both sides, resulting in an attractive bluish overall appearance. The foliage is similar in color to carnation leaves, hence the common name. Many different forms are in cultivation, some intensely blue and short growing, others more green or taller. Sun and dry conditions intensify the chalky-blue color and result in tighter, lower growth. Flowers, appearing in late spring on culms up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall, are relatively insignificant, although there is a noticeable purple-black color to the male and female spikes. Strongly rhizoma-tous, this species spreads slowly but steadily to form dense, fine-textured masses and is very useful as a groundcover in full sun to partial shade. Very drought tolerant. Adaptable to a wide range of soils including alkaline types and can also withstand some salinity. Most plants sold in the United States as Carex nigra are actually C. flacca. The individual florets of C. flacca have three stigmas; florets of C. nigra have two stigmas. Zone 4.

'Bias'. Leaves cream-white variegated on one side.

Carex flaccosperma Dewey

Thinfruit sedge This clump-forming eastern North American woodland species has two intergrading varieties. The typical variety, Carex flaccosperma var. flaccosperma, is more southern in distribution, growing in rich, sometimes calcareous wood, bottomlands, and swamps from Florida and Texas north to Virginia, Tennessee, and Missouri. It forms a neat mound of evergreen foliage 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm) tall. The leaves, typically green, are up to 5/s inch (15 mm) wide.

The more northern Carex flaccosperma var. glaucodea (Tuck-erman) Kukenthal grows in calcareous woods and meadows from Alabama and Louisiana north to Ontario and west to Illinois and Missouri. The foliage of this variety is strongly glaucous, resulting in the plants having and overall blue-green or gray-green appearance. "Glaucous woodland sedge" would be an appropriate common name. This variety is so distinct both morphologically and genetically that there is growing consensus for classifying it as a separate species: C. glaucodea Tuckerman.

Carexflacca at the Royal Horticultural Society's garden, Wisley, England, in late August.

Both varieties are long-lived, adaptable plants for gardens and other designed or managed landscapes. Although adapted to moist soils and considerable deciduous shade, they are quite drought-tolerant once established and will grow in sun on moist ground. Flowers are produced in May on stalks rising above the foliage. These become lax and create an often-tangled mass as the seeds mature; shearing them back at this time will improve neatness if desired. The foliage remains evergreen through all but the coldest winters; however, plants will tolerate annual cutting back if necessary to remove winter-desiccated growth. Propagate by seed, or by division in spring. Zone 4.

A sweep of Carex flac-cosperma var. glaucodea in the Barton garden in Pennsylvania combines with drifts of local asters and ferns under a deciduous canopy in mid August

Glaucous woodland sedge, Carex flaccosperma var. glaucodea, in the author's Pennsylvania garden in early August.

Carexflagellifera Colenso

Mop-headed sedge Native to damp habitats on New Zealand's North, South, and Stewart Islands. Similar to Carex testacea and C. comans. Foliage color varies from metallic green to rich copper-bronze or red-bronze to dull gray-bronze. Typically grows 10 to 16 inches (25-40 cm) tall; however, the flowering stems are capable of elongating horizontally 3 to 6 feet (90-180 cm) from the center of the clump in fruiting stage.

'Bronze Delight'. Leaves warm bronze.

'Coca Cola'. Leaves cola-colored.

'Nelson'. Leaves green-bronze.

'Toffee Twist'. Leaves a light toffee brown.

Carexflagellifera in mid July at Merriments Gardens in East Sussex, England.

Carexflagellifera 'Coca Cola' at the Royal Horticultural Society's garden, Wisley, in Surrey, England, in late August.

Carexflagellifera 'Toffee Twist' in early April at Berkeley Horticultural Nursery in Berkeley, California.

Carex grayi Carey

Gray's sedge, mace sedge Named for eminent American botanist Asa Gray (18101888), this clump-forming North American grows in calcareous meadows and alluvial woodlands from Quebec to Iowa and south to Georgia, Mississippi, and Missouri. To 3 feet (90 cm) tall, leafy, medium green. Blooms in May, producing conspicuous and attractive light-green seedheads shaped like maces, 3/4 to 1V2 inches (2-4 cm) in diameter at maturity. Will grow in shade to partial sun if provided adequate moisture. Propagate by seed, or by division in spring.

'Morning Star'. Seedheads larger than average, to 1 inch (25 mm) wide.

Carex hachijoensis Akiyama

Hachijo kan suge This green-leaved Japanese sedge is native to Hachijo Island off Japan's main island of Honshu. Similar to the more densely tufted Carex oshimensis but not as cold hardy. The popular variegated cultivar 'Evergold' is sometimes listed here but is a selection of C. oshimensis. Zone 7.

Carex humilis Leysser Low sedge

Native to hot, dry, open places including chalk grasslands and scrub woodlands, typically on nutrient-poor, often calcareous soils in Europe including the British Isles, sometimes occurring with Carex flacca, where soils are slightly richer. Green-leaved and fine-textured, it grows 8 to 24 inches (20 to 60 cm) tall, blooming in early spring. Rhizomes slowly extend laterally, forming new clumps. The flowers are relatively insignificant. Naturally adapted to heat, drought, and thin, poor soils, it is proving well suited for use on roof gardens and other similarly challenging urban sites. Plants in sun are typically light green in color. Shade-grown plants are deep green. Propagate by seed, or by division in spring. Zone 6, possibly colder.

'Hexe' (witch). A selection by Hans Simon of Germany. The name refers to the "witches" rings (circular growth patterns) sometimes evident in old populations of this sedge growing in habitat.

Carex grayi grows in shade amid Jeffersonia diphylla, Geranium maculatum, and Trillium species at Cole Burrell's Bird Hill garden in Virginia in early May.

Carex humilis 'Hexe' in full sun on the Berggarten roof garden in Hanover, Germany, in late August.  

Carex humilis 'Velbeit' in partial shade at Garden Treasure Nursery on Long Island, New York, in mid July.

'Velbeit'. Superficially similar to the typical form, but has proved well adapted to coastal gardens in the northeastern United States.

Carex intumescens Rudge Mace sedge

Very similar to Gray's sedge, Carexgrayi, but with green, macelike seedheads that are not quite as large. Grows naturally in moist or wet woodlands from Newfoundland south to Texas. Blooms in June, to 2 feet (60 cm) tall, somewhat lax in habit, becoming more so by late summer. Very shade-tolerant. Prefers average to moist soil. Fully deciduous in winter. Propagate by seed or division. Zone 4.

Carex laxiculmis Schweinfurth

Glaucous woodland sedge, spreading sedge Native to rich woods and glades from Maine to southern Ontario and Wisconsin south to Long Island, Tennessee, and Missouri. Clump-forming, producing a neat mound of evergreen foliage 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm) tall. The glaucous blue-green leaves, are up to V/2 inch (12 mm) wide. Superficially similar to Carexflaccosperma but with slightly narrower, typically more glaucous leaves, and with slender flowering and fruiting stems that never distract from the neat appearance of the foliage. Often occurs with and hybridizes with C. digitalis. Adaptable to a range of soil types. Prefers light shade but will grow in sun with adequate moisture. Drought-tolerant, surprisingly heat-tolerant, and a natural choice of dry shade situations. Propagate by seed, or by division in spring. Zone 4.

'Hobbs'. A blue-green selection from a Pennsylvania population, introduced by Head Ornamentals of South Carolina and marketed with the name Bunny Blue™. It has proved adapted to summer heat into Zone 9 in Florida.

Carex lupulina Muhlenberg ex Willdenow Hop sedge

Native to wet woods and swamps, from Nova Scotia to Minnesota south to Florida and Texas. Deciduous, clump-forming, with upright stems to 30 inches (75 cm) tall and medium-green leaves to ^ inch (12 mm) wide. Flowers abundantly in late spring to early summer. The female spikes are up to 1% inches (32 mm) long and hoplike in appearance. Larger-flowered but lesser known than Gray's sedge, Carex grayi, this species is well suited to moist or wet woodland landscapes. Adapted to periodic standing water. Readily propagated by seed, or by division in spring. Zone 4.

Carex intumescens blooms in mid May in moist deciduous northern Delaware woods.

Carex laxiculmis along a bluestone walk in the author's Pennsylvania garden in mid October.

Carex laxiculmis 'Hobbs' amid falling leaves of pawpaw, Asimina triloba, in mid November in a shaded woodland section of the author's Pennsylvania garden.

Carex montana Linnaeus

Mountain sedge Native to subalpine, rocky mountain habitats in Europe. Evergreen and fine-textured, growing 10 to 20 inches (25 to 50 cm) tall. Rhizomes slowly extend laterally, forming new clumps. Tolerates alkaline conditions. Propagate by division in spring, or by seed. Zone 4.

Carex morrowii Boott [Carex fortunei hort.]

Kan suge

Native to low mountain woodlands in central and southern Japan. Clump-forming or slowly spreading by rhizomes, with glossy evergreen leaves. Easily grown and adaptable to a wide range of conditions, this species is most commonly represented in cultivation by variegated forms, some of which were introduced to Western gardens as early as the mid-1800s. The majority of these belong to the typical variety, Carex morrowii var. morrowii, and have firm, leathery leaves to V inch (12 mm) wide. Grows 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) tall, in sun or light shade. Durable and well suited for use as groundcovers, especially the more rhizomatous forms. Zone 5.

'Gilt'. Leaf margins cream-white. Introduced from Japan and named by Hans Simon of Germany.

'Gold Band'. Leaf margins cream-yellow.

'Ice Dance'. Leaf margins cream-white. Strongly rhizomatous but not so fast as to be a nuisance. A superb, self-repairing groundcover selection introduced from Japan by Barry Yinger of Pennsylvania.

'Variegata'. This name is a catchall for numerous, otherwise unnamed variegated selections. Plants sold by this name may have crisply distinct white leaf margins or the variegation may be barely discernable.

Carex lupulina in mid June in shaded moist woodlands in northern Delaware

Carex montana grows among calcareous rocks at the Sich-tungsgarten in Weihenstephan, Germany, in late August.

 

This plant represents the most pronounced white-margined variegation to be found among plants sold as Carex morrowii 'Variegata'.

Carex morrowii var. temnolepis (Franchet) Ohwi [Carex temnolepis Franchet] Hosoba kan suge This botanical variety is so different from the typical that it is difficult for casual observers to believe it belongs in same species. In fact, nineteenth-century botanist Adrien Franchet originally thought it to be a distinct species. Native to mountain woods on Japan's main island, Honshu, this exceptionally fine-textured sedge has threadlike leaves just over Vs inch (3 mm) wide. Grows in sun with adequate moisture, or in wet or dry shade. Clump-forming, to 1 foot (30 cm) tall. Propagate by seed, or by division in spring. Zone 5.

Very subtly variegated plants of Carex morrowii 'Varie-gata' cover the shaded corner of two paths in the Friendship Island garden in Potsdam, Germany, in late August, backed by a clump of Carexgrayi, Epime-dium species, and ferns.

Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance' with Alchemilla mollis at the Ega Exhibition Park in Erfurt, Germany, in late August

Carex morrowii var. temnolepis 'Silk Tassel' in mid July at Tony Avent's Juniper Level Botanic Garden in North Carolina.

'Silk Tassel'. Leaves glossy, with white-variegated median and dark green margins. The variegation is subtle, producing an overall light green or gray-green appearance. Plants sometimes revert to solid green. Introduced and named by Barry Yinger, from a 1976 trip to Japan. Zone 5.

Carex muskingumensis Schweinfurth Palm sedge

Native to low woods and wet meadows in north-central North America. Narrow, tapering solid green leaves radiate from lax stems growing to 2 feet (60 cm) tall. Spreads strongly by rhizomes, often forming large masses. Terminal inflorescences, produced in late spring, open green and turn light brown. Although naturally occurring in moist habitats, this species is surprisingly drought-tolerant and will grow on soils of average moisture in light shade or sun. Durable, long-lived, and suited for groundcover use. Propagate by seed, or by division in spring. Zone 4.

'Ice Fountains'. Leaf medians bright white, margins dark green. A distinct introduction from Dan Heims of Terra Nova Nurseries in Oregon.

'Little Midge'. A true miniature version, smaller in all parts and growing only 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm) tall, with leaves Vs inch (3 mm) wide. Introduced by Limerock Nursery of Pennsylvania.

'Little Midge Variegated'. Leaves with cream-white margins. Originated as a sport at Hoffman Nursery in Rouge-mont, North Carolina.

'Oehme'. Leaves with pronounced yellow margins. Originated as a sport in Wolfgang Oehme's Maryland garden and named by Tony Avent of Plant Delights Nursery.

'Silberstreif' (silver stripe). Leaves green and white-variegated, slightly smaller-growing. Introduced in Germany by Eckhard Schimana.

'Wachtposten' (sentry tower). Green-leaved and slightly more erect-stemmed than typical.

Carex nigra (Linnaeus) Reichard

Black-flowering sedge This extremely variable species occurs in bogs, marshes, and along waterways in Europe and to eastern coastal North America. Grows 1 to 2V feet (30-75 cm) tall, spread- ing by rhizomes and sometimes forming dense tussocks. Leaves often glaucous, to 3/16 inch (4 mm) wide. Blooms in late spring, the female flowers blackish, interesting but not showy. Though this species is worthy of cultivation, most plants sold by this name are actually Carex flacca, having florets with three stigmas instead of the two stigmas characteristic of C. nigra. Zone 5.

Flowering in early June, Carex muskingumensis is interwoven with Polygonum amplexicaule on dry ground at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Illinois

Carex muskingumensis 'Oehme' in the courtyard at the Delaware Center for Horticulture in Wilmington in mid August

Carex muskingumensis 'Ice Fountains' at Terra Nova Nurseries in Oregon.

'Variegata'. Leaves with marginal light yellow variegation. Grows to 12 inches (30 cm) tall, spreading. Small blackish flowers in late spring. Stigmas two. Full sun or light shade.

Carex nudata W. Boott

California black-flowering sedge This northern California native grows along wet, sandy or rocky streambeds below the high-water mark. Densely tufted, forming raised tussocks reminiscent of the eastern North American Carex stricta. Flowers truly black when opening in late winter or early spring, conspicuous and attractive, held on arching stems above the foliage, to 2 feet (60 cm). Grows best in sun with moisture. Propagate by seed, or by division in spring. Zone 7.

Carex ornithopoda Willdenow

Bird's-foot sedge This small European species grows in open, subalpine often calcareous grassland habitats. Reaching only 4 to 8 inches (10-20 cm) tall with solid green leaves, it spreads by rhizomes that form new clumps. Will grow in sun or light shade. Fairly drought tolerant once established. Zone 7.

'Variegata'. Leaves white-variegated at center, with green margins. Smaller than Carex oshimensis 'Evergold', but similar enough that it is often confused with it in commerce.

Carex oshimensis Nakai

Oshima kan suge This clump-forming Japanese native is common in dry woods and rocky slopes throughout Honshu, the main Japanese island. Densely tufted, it forms a thick, spilling tussock of fine-textured evergreen foliage to 16 inches (40 cm) high. Leaves are solid glossy green, up to 5/16 inch (8 mm) wide. Durable and adaptable, it will grow in sun or shade and is quite drought-tolerant. Represented in cultivation mostly by the variegated forms. Propagate by seed, or by division in spring. Zone 5.

California black-flowering sedge, Carex nudata, in March in a Longwood Gardens conservatory garden designed by Ron Lutsko.

The typical green-leaved form of Carex ornithopoda in late August at the Berggarten in Hanover, Germany.  

The typical, green form of Carex oshimensis grows beneath Bet-ulajacquemontii in mid August at the Berggarten in Hanover, Germany.

Carex oshimensis 'Evergold' displayed in a container along a street in Takayama, Japan, in mid December.

'Evergold' (also sold as 'Aureo-variegata', 'Old Gold', 'Ev-erbrite', and 'Variegata'). One of the most elegant and widely grown of the variegated sedges. Leaves dark green at the margins, with a broad median stripe that is cream-white to cream-yellow. Flowers, produced in early spring, are ornamentally insignificant. Sections of the clumps occasionally revert to solid green or to less regular variegation, and plants in commerce sometimes include such variations. Also, 'Ever-gold' is often listed incorrectly as belonging to Carex hachijo-ensis or C. morrowii. Performs well in a broad range of cultural conditions, but suffers in extreme heat. Zone 6.

'Gold Strike'. Leaves uniformly cream-yellow at center with dark green margins. Introduced by Kurt Bluemel.

Carex pallescens Linnaeus Pale sedge

Native to Europe, Asia, and North America, usually in open woods and at woods edges. Shortly rhizomatous, with narrow leaves up to 2 feet (60 cm) tall. Zone 5.

'Wood's Edge'. Leaves with creamy marginal variegation.

Carex pansa Bailey

California meadow sedge Native to coastal sands and other sandy open habitats in California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Spreads by strong rhizomes to form large mats, and is useful for stabilization and as a water-conserving alternative to cool-season turfgrass lawns. Narrow green foliage is somewhat tousled, 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm) high if unmowed. Drought-tolerant although it will go dormant in summer in hot, dry regions without supplemental irrigation. Prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade. Best established by plug planting. Zone 6.

Carex pendula Hudson

A wide-ranging species, native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Typically occurs in moist environments and at woodland edges. Clump-forming, with gracefully arching stems to 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, from which hang delicate, cylindrical male and female flower spikes. It self-sows freely and is frequently encountered, invited, in British gardens. Although most texts suggest relegating it to the wilder parts of the garden, it is sometimes the perfect, architectural counterpoint to a stone wall or the spare courtyard of a stately home, where it will be content to grow between cracks in the pavers. Shade-tolerant and drought-tolerant. Easily propagated by seed or division. Zone 7.

Carexoshimensis 'Ever-gold' with Helleborus foetidus in early December in the author's Pennsylvania garden

The variegated pattern on Carex oshimensis 'Gold Strike' is pronounced and uniform.

Carex pansa unmowed at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden in California in mid July.

'Moonraker'. This strikingly cream-yellow variegated cul-tivar was pulled out of a hedgerow in Wiltshire, England, by a farmer's tractor. The variegation is most pronounced in the early, cooler part of the growing season. Slow to propagate by division.

Carex pensylvanica Lamarck

Pennsylvania sedge This highly variable species is widely distributed, growing in woods, woodland openings, and thickets, on upland organic soils and sandy soils in average to dry conditions, over much of eastern North America. Slender and upright to 8 inches (20 cm) tall, spreading by rhizomes and often creating an almost lawnlike cover. Tolerant of almost full sun if growing in moist soil. Highly shade-tolerant and drought-tolerant. Semievergreen in milder climates, winter dormant in cold regions, sometimes turning amber or gold at the end of autumn. Useful as a no-mow lawn substitute in shaded spaces, but will withstand only minor foot traffic. Tolerates periodic mowing. Easily grown from seed, although lawn plantings are best established from plugs. Plants of local or regional provenance may prove more seasonally adapted than material from distant regions. Closer study and selection is warranted. Zone 4.

Carexpendula grows in a small space between the paving in the entry courtyard at Little Thakeham, in Stor-rington, England, in early July.

Carex pendula at Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City, Utah, in mid August.

Carex pensylvanica blooms 6 inches (15 cm) tall in the author's Pennsylvania garden in mid April. Light yellow anthers of the male flowers are visible in the upper portion of each inflorescence. Translucent-white stigmas of the female flowers are positioned below.

Carex pensylvanica appears quite lawnlike in this parking lot island at the Chicago Botanic Garden in early June. \

'Hilltop'. A low-growing selection of Maryland provenance.

Carex petriei Cheesman

Compact New Zealand sedge Native to moist habitats on New Zealand's North and South Islands. Grows only 8 to 12 inches (20-30 cm) tall with leaves copper-brown to red-bronze, often curling or twisting at tips. Typically upright in form, like a small Carex bucha-nanii, but sometimes more lax and spreading. Easily grown from seed which, as with so many of the New Zealand species, produces numerous leaf color variations. Prefers moisture and sharp drainage. Zone 7.

Carex phyllocephala T. Koyama

Chinese palm sedge, Tenjiku suge An unusually architectural Chinese native with evergreen leaves arranged in whorls clustered toward the top of the 2-foot (60-cm) tall canelike stems. The typical form has solid green leaves and is rarely cultivated in gardens. The species was originally introduced to Japan for medicinal purposes and is best known for the variegated sport now called 'Sparkler'. Grows best in rich organic soil with adequate moisture. Solid green plants are slightly more cold hardy, often surviving winters in Zone 7.

'Sparkler'. Fuiri Tenjiku suge. Fuiri means variegated in Japanese. This unique variegated variety was introduced from Japan and named by Barry Yinger. Each stem truly resembles a sparkler throwing off bright white sparks from the tip. Clustered near the top of the stems in a palmlike manner, the leaves have broad white margins and dark green medians, creating an overall white effect. Though perennial in mild climates, it is well suited to container display in colder regions. Grows well in partial shade, or in full sun with plenty of moisture. Zone 8.

Carex pilulifera Linnaeus Pill sedge

A small Eurasian native occurring mostly on acidic soils in upland areas but also found on sandy soils. Clump-forming, 4 to 12 inches (10-30 cm) tall. Evergreen leaves typically solid green. Prefers sunny, acidic conditions. Alkaline soils will cause chlorosis. Drought-tolerant. Zone 7.

'Tinney's Princess'. Leaves cream-white at center with dark green margins. Found and introduced by Gerald Mundy from a plant on his estate near Salisbury, England. To 10 inches (25 cm) tall. Zone 7.

Carex plantaginea Lamarck

Plantain-leafed sedge, broad-leafed sedge Native to rich moist deciduous woodlands in eastern North America, often along streamsides or near seeps. Clump-forming, with unusually broad leaves to 1V8 inches (3 cm) wide, shiny green, with prominent parallel veins that result in a pleated look. The basal leaves overwinter, so the plant is effectively evergreen. A delightful bold-textured companion to ferns and woodland wildflowers in native habitats and in the garden. Requires regular moisture and partial shade for best growth. Too much sun will cause the leaves to yellow, no matter how much moisture is provided. Propagate by seed, or by division in spring. Zone 5.

'Mountain Yodel'. An especially vigorous, durable selection by Kurt Bluemel, from a North Carolina mountain population.

Container-grown Carex phyllocephala 'Sparkler' in late September in Pennsylvania.

Carex pilulifera 'Tinney's Princess'.

Carex platyphylla Carey

Silver sedge, broad leaf sedge Occurs on rocky slopes and streambanks in rich deciduous woodlands from Maine and southern Quebec south to the North Carolina mountains and west to Wisconsin and Missouri. Clump-forming and boldly textured, with leaves typically 1 inch (25 mm) wide. The glaucous foliage is sometimes nearly silver in appearance. Forms a loose, low tuft of leaves, usually less than 5 inches (13 cm) in height. Produces new leaves each spring which remain attractive through most or all of winter. Upright flowering stalks are produced in early spring. Grows fullest on moist organic soil but will tolerate poorly drained, periodically droughty soil. Tolerates alkaline conditions. Grows well in deciduous shade or in partly sunny sites. Readily propagated by seed, or by division in spring. Zone 4.

New leaves are bright green on Carex plantaginea growing beside a West Virginia mountain stream in early May.

Carex plantaginea in late August in a guesthouse courtyard garden by Karl Wienke in Suhl, Germany.

Carex platyphylla in early September in the author's Pennsylvania garden

In mid June, Carex platyphylla is displayed in a container along with other eastern North American woodland species in the entrance courtyard of Peirce's Woods at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania.

Carex praegracilis W. Boott

Western meadow sedge Very similar to Carex pansa and often confused with it in commerce, this strongly rhizomatous, widespread western North American species occurs in a variety of habitats both moist and dry, including meadows, prairies, and edges of waterways. It often grows naturally on alkaline soils and is salt-tolerant in cultivated settings such as roadsides. Solid green and fine-textured, it grows to 12 inches (30 cm) if unmowed and can form an extensive carpet. Useful as an alternative lawn, either unmowed or mowed or cut with a string trimmer and maintained as low as 4 inches (10 cm). Withstands considerable foot traffic. Evergreen in mild moist conditions. Summer dormant in hot, dry conditions. This durable, adaptable species has been rapidly spreading from its original western distribution and is now found as far east as Pennsylvania. Prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade. Best established by plug planting. Zone 5.

'Laguna Mountain'. A dark green compact selection from the Laguna Mountain area in San Diego County, California. Zone 6.

Carex radiata (Wahlenberg) Small [Carex rosea var. radiata (Wahlenberg) Dewey] Eastern star sedge This clump-forming eastern North American species typically occurs in deciduous forest habitats that are often moist to wet. Grows 8 to 12 inches (20-30 cm) tall with narrow green leaves. Well adapted to moist shade. Propagate by seed, or by division in spring. Zone 4.

Carex remota Linnaeus Remote sedge

A fine-textured evergreen clump-former native to damp shady habitats in Europe including the British Isles. Forms dense tussocks of bright green leaves 10 to 12 inches (25-30 cm) tall. Grows best in light shade or in sun on moist soils or at water's edge. Propagate by seed, or by division in spring. Zone 6.

Carex riparia Curtis Greater pond sedge Widespread throughout the Northern Hemisphere, often forming large stands around ponds and by slow-moving rivers and other wet places. Spreads aggressively by rhizomes. Typically green-leaved. Stems to 4 feet (1.2 m) tall. Zone 5.

Carex praegracilis unmowed, in early April at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden in California.

Carex remota in late August in Karl Wien-ke's garden in Suhl, Germany.

'Variegata'. Variegated pond sedge. Long arching leaves are boldly striped white. Occasional all-white leaves are produced in spring. Full sun, in moist or wet sites. Can be an invasive runner. Zone 6.

Carex rosea Schkuhr ex Willdenow [Carex convoluta Mackenzie]

Rosy sedge

This fine-textured clump-former is native to deciduous and mixed forests over much of eastern North America, often in dry conditions. Grows 8 to 12 inches (20-30 cm) tall with green leaves that are slightly wider than Carex radiata or C. ap-palachica. Well adapted to dry shade. Propagate by seed, or by division in spring. Zone 4.

Carex secta Boott

New Zealand tussock sedge This large species is native to New Zealand's North, South, and Stewart Islands, growing in swamps and along the margins of ponds and waterways. It is the analog to Carex stricta in North America, but even larger in ultimate size. Young plants appear as a fountain of fine-textured green foliage. Older plants form thick trunks up to 4 feet (1.2 m) tall. Though unquestionably handsome, this species has long been overlooked and underappreciated because it is so widespread and abundant. In recent years it has attracted attention for its utility in stabilizing streambanks and for its value in providing sheltering habitat for waterfowl. Prefers wet sites in full sun but will tolerate light shade and moist soil. Best propagated by seed. Zone 8, possibly colder.

Carex siderosticha Hance

Creeping broad-leafed sedge, Tagane-so Native to mountain woods in Japan, also Korea, Manchuria, China. Slowly creeping by rhizomes, forming a dense mass of bold-textured foliage. Leaves 1% inches (32 mm) wide, solid green, to 8 inches (20 cm) tall. Deciduous, going fully dormant in cold winters. Prefers partial shade and average to moist organic soil. A long-lived, durable sedge for woodland gardens. Propagate by seed, or by division in spring. Zone 5.

'Banana Boat'. Leaves yellow-green at center with darker green margins. Dan Heims of Terra Nova Nurseries coined this name for an unnamed Japanese variety he introduced to the United States. Although the variegation is fairly stable in the garden, it is unfortunately not stable in tissue culture. Zone 6.

Carexriparia 'Variegata' in late July in England.

Mature plants of Carex secta with well-developed trunks flank a fountain at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens in New Zealand in late August (winter).

'Lemon Zest'. Another Terra Nova Nurseries introduction, with solid green-yellow leaves. Zone 6.

'Variegata'. Striped broad-leafed sedge. Leaves green with clear white stripes, especially toward the margins. The variegation on new leaves is often attractively pink-tinted during cool spring periods. Zone 6.

Carex 'Silver Sceptre'

Silver sceptre sedge Typically only 8 to 10 inches (20-25 cm) tall, this low, neatly variegated sedge is one of the very best for groundcover purposes. It spreads by rhizomes, forming a dense carpet of connected clumps that is largely impervious to weeds. Up to 5/16 inch (8 mm) wide, the relatively soft leaves have broad cream-white margins. This sedge was originally introduced as a selection of Carex morrowii, but certainly does not belong to this species which has hairless, mostly two-toothed perig-ynia. The perigynia of C. 'Silver Sceptre' are hairy and toothless, more closely resembling those of C. oshimensis. This plant probably originated as a mutation in the garden of Masato Yokoi of Japan. Yokoi provided material to Roger Grounds of England, who named it 'Silver Sceptre'.

Carex socialis Mohlenbrock & Schwegman

Low woodland sedge, social sedge This fine-textured running species typically occurs on alluvial floodplain woods and other moist bottomlands from Texas to Georgia north to North Carolina, Kentucky, and Illinois, and is capable of withstanding periodic inundation. Grows 8 to 10 inches (20-25 cm) tall, spreading by rhizomes and often creating a nearly continuous cover. A useful alternative to Carexpensylvanica for more moist locations. Tolerates shade or will grow in sun with adequate moisture. Propagate by seed, or by division in spring. Zone 5.

Carex solandri Boott

New Zealand forest sedge Native to moist forests on New Zealand's North and South Islands. Distinct from most cultivated New Zealand sedges in having green leaves. Grows 18 to 24 inches (45-60 cm) tall. Prefers moist shade but will grow in partial sun and average moisture once established. Zone 7.

Carexsiderosticha with Adi-antum venustum in late August in a very shady section of Hermann Mussel's garden in Hei-genhausen, Germany.

This Japanese selection of Carex siderosticha has been sold in the United States as 'Banana Boat'. Photographed in Cole Burrell's Virginia garden in early May.

Carex siderosticha 'Var-iegata' in Barry Yinger's Pennsylvania garden in mid June.

Carex spissa Bailey

San Diego sedge Native along watercourses and in wet seeps, sometimes in serpentine regions, at lower elevations in Southern California, New Mexico, and Mexico. A distinct and dramatic sedge with thick, evergreen gray-blue leaves, growing upright to 5 feet (1.5 m) tall. Increases slowly by rhizomes to form large clumps but is never invasive. Light brown terminal inflorescences are produced in spring. Accumulated discolored or dead foliage from past seasons is best removed by raking. This sedge does not recover easily from being cut back. Grows best with plentiful moisture but is surprisingly drought-tolerant once established. Propagate by seed or division. Zone 7.

Carex stricta Lamarck Tussock sedge

Native to bogs, marshes, wet swales, and creeksides in northeastern North America. Similar in form and preferred habitat to the European Carex elata. Develops dense tussocks raised above the water's surface, each with an accumulation of old leaves surrounding the base. Spreads by underground rhizomes to form new tussocks, sometimes creating large stands. Rich green and fine-textured, striking in contrast with skunk cabbage, Symplocarpus foetidus; cinnamon fern, Osmunda cinnamonea; and other eastern natives of wet woods and woods edges. Will survive dry periods and will grow away from water if soil is moist. Propagate by seed, or by division in spring. Zone 4.

Carex 'Silver Sceptre' with Polygonum amplexi-caule 'Firetail' (foreground) and Sedum 'Autumn Joy' (background) at the Ega Exhibition Park in Erfurt, Germany, in late August.

Carex spissa blooms in early April at Leaning Pine Arboretum in San Luis Obispo, California.

Carex stricta blooms in May in a wet woodland opening in New York State.

Carex stricta tussocks in mid April in western Massachusetts.

Carex subfusca W. Boott

Mountain sedge Occurs along watercourses and seasonally moist mountain meadows from Washington south through California into Mexico, and eastward into Idaho, Utah, and New Mexico. Spreads rapidly by rhizomes to form a thick cover of fine-textured foliage 12 to 18 inches (30-45 cm) tall. Grows in sun or shade. Dormant in hot, dry summer period or will remain green if moisture is plentiful. Propagate by seed, or by division in early spring. Zone 5.

Carex tahoata Hamlin

This New Zealand native is restricted to the central North Island. It is very similar to Carex dipsacea, but is shorter, with more slender leaves. Zone 7.

'Taupo Bronze Warrior'. Leaves rich chestnut bronze. Introduced by Taupo Native Plant Nursery on New Zealand's North Island.

Carex tenuiculmis (Petrie) Heenan & de Lange [Carexsecta var. tenuiculmis Petrie] This South Island New Zealand native is represented in cultivation by plants that are rich warm bronze in color. Mostly upright-arching in form, especially when young. Best in full sun with adequate moisture. Zone 6.

Carex testacea Solander ex Boott

Orange New Zealand sedge A common species on New Zealand's North and South Islands, growing in grasslands and forests and on dunes. Densely tufted, to 2 feet (60 cm) tall with upright-arching fine-textured foliage. The color varies from green to golden brown and orange, but the most commonly cultivated forms are intensely orange, especially when grown in full sun. The color persists almost year-round. This is one of the hardiest, most drought-tolerant New Zealand sedges, and because of this it is commonly planted in challenging urban sites and is ideal for growing as a container specimen. The fruiting stems can elongate greatly, becoming a nuisance unless trimmed, which is easily done except in very large plantings. Propagate by seed or division. Zone 6.

Carex subfusca carpets moist ground around a stone in the meadow at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden in California.

Carex tenuiculmis in Southern California in early April

Carex testacea in Christchurch, New Zealand, in late August (winter).

Carex texensis (Torrey) Bailey

Texas sedge, catlin sedge Occurs mostly on rocky or sandy ground in open, often dry woodlands and meadows over much of the eastern United States west to Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. It has been introduced eastward to New Jersey and westward to California. This low-growing clump-former is long-lived and durable enough to be used as a water-conserving lawn alternative. Foliage is dark green and fine-textured, to 5 inches (13 cm) high. Spring flowers are subtle and visually insignificant. Can be grown from seed, although lawn plantings are best established by planting plugs approximately 6 inches (15 cm) apart. Will tolerate periodic mowing and a moderate amount of foot traffic. Grows in sun or partial shade, in moist or dry conditions. Zone 5.

Carex 'The Beatles'

A likely hybrid between Carex digitata and C. ornithopoda. Makes a deep green mop of narrow foliage 6 inches (15 cm) tall, spreading slowly. A useful low groundcover, evergreen in milder climates. Requires moisture. Zone 4.

Carex trifida Cavanilles

New Zealand blue-green sedge, tataki grass Native in New Zealand, on coastal cliffs or rock outcrops and occasionally in swamps, as well as in Chile and the Falkland Islands. Distinct from most other New Zealand native sedges, with rather wide, glaucous blue-green leaves and a stout habit. Grows 18 to 30 inches (45-75 cm) tall. The flowering stems are upright and topped with attractive brown inflorescences. Blue foliage color is most pronounced when plants are grown in sun, although this sedge will tolerate light shade. Drought-tolerant. Propagate by seed or division. Zone 8, possibly colder.

Carex tumulicola Mackenzie Foot-hill sedge

This slowly spreading species is native to grasslands and forest openings in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California. Grows 1 to 2 feet (30-60 cm) tall, with narrow green leaves. Will tolerate sun or shade and moisture levels from moist to dry. This species is confused in commerce with the European Berkeley sedge, Carex divulsa. For many years, the majority of plants sold as C. tumulicola have actually represented C. divulsa. Zone 7.

Carex texensis in early April at the Ladybird Johnson Wild-flower Center in Austin, Texas.

Carextrifida in late August (winter) at the Auckland Botanic Gardens in New Zealand.