DIG DEEPER

Carex

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They look similar to grasses, but sedges reside in the Cyperaceae family and are not true grasses. In the trade, most of the plants we call sedges are in the genus Carex. It’s marked by its diversity in color, texture, and cultural adaptation. To see a side-by-side comparison of the Carex we offer, download our Carex Comparison Chart.

Most of the Carex we grow fit into three distinct groups. Sedges from Asia are well adapted to shade and are often variegated. Their vibrancy adds brightness and depth to shady spots, and almost all are suited to container plantings. Many are evergreen in mild climates. Although most sedges are not grown for their flowering, blooms on Asian species are often more prominent than their relatives from other parts of the world.

The sedges from New Zealand can take more sun and add zest wherever planted. The deep red-bronze foliage of C. buchananii 'Red Rooster' stands out against the green backdrop of other plants' foliage. New Zealand also brings us the intriguing orange-tipped foliage of Carex testacea ‘Prairie Fire’.

North American sedges have stepped into the spotlight for many reasons. They're a smart choice as a living mulch or alternative to the traditional lawn, especially in shady locations. They're important component of restoration projects, naturalizing, and green infrastructure features, such as bioretention and bioswales. Native sedges are a diverse group and there is bound to be one that fits almost any set of cultural conditions you have.

For a look at the ways sedges fit your growing program or landscape project, start with our Sedges Make Sense blog series.

Illustration supplied by New York Botanical Garden via plantillustrations.org (Illustration ID#293669)

DIGGING DEEPER

Plantsman Rick Darke notes that “sedge” refers to any of the nearly 4000 species in the Cyperaceae family. However, the word is most commonly applied to the genus Carex. The common name “sedge” comes from the Latin word for sedge, secare, meaning “to cut” and from Old English secg and Middle English sedge derived from Proto-Indo-European sek, which also means “to cut.”

Carex was first characterized by Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in his 1753 Species Plantarum. He named fewer than 30 Carex species, but his introduction set off extensive study by botanists. The genus now contains around 2000 species, and an entire branch of botany called caricology is devoted to the study of Carex. It is one of the largest genera of vascular plants and can be found in almost every ecosystem worldwide. Whereas most genera with a large number of species include a range of growth forms, all Carex species are herbaceous perennials. Unlike true grasses (in Poaceae), all Carex are cool-season plants. Among this large group of species, almost 500 are native to North America.

The common name lends rhyme to the saying “Sedges have edges, and rushes are round, but grasses have nodes from their tips to the ground.” The “edges” refer to their stems, which are triangular in cross section. Distinctive inflorescences, fused sheaths, and inconspicuous nodes also set them apart from true grasses and rushes. Botanists continue to discover the intricacies of Carex as they work to define its distinguishing structures. We find these illustrations showing Carex form and reproductive structures helpful as we learn to identify and understand these fascinating plants.

Sedges are referenced by great literary artists, appearing in in W. B. Yeats 1899 poem “He Hears the Cry of the Sedge” and in two of Shakespeare’s plays: Much Ado About Nothing and The Tempest.

SEDGES AND WILDLIFE

The seeds of native sedges are eaten by many kinds of wildlife including ducks, grouse, wild turkeys, sandpipers, and sparrows, to name a few. They're also a food source for caterpillars and small mammals. Because they bloom in spring, sedges provide an early meal before most native grasses begin to bloom. According to The Living Landscape by Rick Darke and Doug Tallamy, in the Mid-Atlantic region Carex pensylvanica hosts 36 species of caterpillars! So does C. flaccosperma, C. laxiculmis, C. stricta, and C. vulpinoidea. Others like C. plantaginea serve as larval hosts for skippers.

The foliage of sedges serves as valuable cover and nesting sites for birds and other animals. Wood ducks nest in the trees above sedges, using the sedge leaves to soften the fall of fledglings during flying lessons.

For a closer look at the role of sedges and grasses in supporting pollinators, check out our post, "Grasses & Sedges Host Butterflies, Too."

GROWING SEDGES

All Carex species are cool-season plants, growing most actively during spring and fall. They bloom in spring or early summer, and their growth slows as soil and air temperatures rise in full summer. As fall approaches and temperatures start to cool, Carex will begin more active growth until the onset of winter.

While they are relatively resilient plants, sedges can be more challenging to grow than grasses. They tend to be more sensitive to cultural conditions, such as soil moisture, salt concentrations, and temperature fluctuations. They’re slower growing than grasses and take longer to finish in container production. They’re also slower to recover from being cut back than grasses. In the landscape, we suggest cutting them back only if the foliage appearance becomes undesirable.

Unlike grasses, which can take unfavorable conditions for a while, sedges will quickly show damage when over fertilized or over watered. See our section on Considerations in Carex Container Production for more information.

The EverColor^® Series

These wonderful selections are standouts for containers, ground covers, specimens, or borders. They were developed by Pat Fitzgerald of Fitzgerald Nurseries, Ltd., in Ireland. Early entries in the series were developed from long-time favorite, C. oshimensis ‘Evergold’ and includes: 'Everillo', 'Everlime', 'Eversheen', and Everest. The newest addition, 'Everglow', is a C. morrowii.

What do we love about EverColor^®?