Plant these generously to quickly establish your wetland landscape. Many sedges are US native plants and are easy-to-grow shade perennials for the woodland garden. Some reliable and popular varieties include blue fescue grass and zebra grass. Here are some tips on preventing, monitoring and treating for pests and diseases in ornamental grasses and sedges: Prevention of pest/disease . You must login or register to add items to your wishlist. Uses: Blue sedge prefers full sun. Since 1988, THE source for buying native, rare, and unique perennials. Little Kitten’ Maiden Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Little Kitten’) It can grow in various types of soil, … The Plants Database includes the following 603 species of Carex . Inspect incoming plant material for disease symptoms. Carex plants generally form arching mounds from 10 inches to more than 3 feet tall. 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. At first glance, one might assume sedges are grasses. Green kyllinga. Widely adaptable to most any site, it will grow well even in wet and/or shady conditions. Grow it with big betony (Stachys macrantha ‘Hummelo’, Zones 7–9) and salvia (Salvia nemorosa ‘Wesuwe’, Zones 5–9), which rise vertically through the sedge’s arching foliage. Carex form clumps or tufts of grass-like foliage which comes in a range of colors from greens, blues, yellows, browns, oranges and some striking variegations. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Plantsman Rick Darke notes that sedge refers to any of the nearly 4000 species in the Cyperaceae family. Carex improves the health of the ecosystem by producing pollen and tiny seeds that are food sources for birds and insects. Sedge is a mostly evergreen, "ornamental grass" that adds dramatic form and specimens have either narrow or wide leaves that blend well texturally into the garden. Reaching heights of only 8" when in bloom, Pennsylvania Sedge grows actively in spring and fall when soil temperatures are cooler. Plants in the sedge family (Cyperaceae) include several genera, including bulrushes, which are part of the genus Scirpus. Sedges & Grasses The foundation of many wetland communities is the grass and sedge species. Show Sedge grass, of the genus Carex, is sometimes mistaken for ornamental grass, but is a sedge grass and more grass-like. Sedge grass is well-suited to line pathways or fill open spaces in a woodland garden. Evergreen perennial. Great low border or groundcover, or use in pots or rock gardens. Leave the seed heads of this upright grass for the birds in autumn, and let the culms (stems) persist through the winter. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Click below on a thumbnail map or name for species profiles. They are not and are held in the genus Carex. The New Zealand sedge is an evergreen perennial grass that has year-round appeal. See how to grow Indian grass. Native sedges can be found thriving in just about any environment, from woodlands to marshes, and even dry sand. Shop our selection of Carex plants below. Many of the straight species of sedge are a light green color, which works well as a backdrop plant. Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia) A hardy ornamental grass that is simple to grow, Muhly Grass provides … They are useful in moist areas, such as around ponds, but there are also types of sedge that thrive in dry regions. Soils that are too dry for too long cause Carex health to decline and the plants start too look ratty. Carex foliage color varies from green, to blue, to gold/orange or variegated. Arching, spiky, mounding, compact or airy, their ornamental qualities and their many uses have made them increasingly popular in the designed … Native sedges can be found thriving in just about any environment, from woodlands to marshes, and even dry sand. There are over 2000 species of sedge...thus there is sure to be one for most garden situations, particularly shade/moist (many), shade/dry (some) and sun/moist (a few). Native ... grass-like sedge Carex paniculata . And the tufted leaves are used as shelter by wildlife too. Grasses, rushes and sedges belong to different plant families. Water logged soils are bad for Carex health and can cause root rot. In light shade, pair it with bigroot geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum ‘Bevan’s Variety’, … Carex—sedge—is the largest plant genus in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) with 164 species, and a total of 171 taxa when all subspecies and varieties are counted. Dune sedge (Carex panza): A green clumping sedge grass, Dune sedge tolerates shade, sun and many soil types, and once established it can thrive under a good deal of wear. Sedges are close botanical cousins of the grasses … Many sedges are US native plants and are easy-to-grow shade perennials for the woodland garden. Look closely at your lawn to determine the presence of sedge grass. If that happens, cut the sedge plant back, resume watering and the health and appearance will improve. From a garden design standpoint, sedge is usually lumped together with other ornamental grasses, but Carex is actually not a grass, but a grass-like plant called a sedge in the family Cyperaceae. Shop ornamental grasses and a variety of lawn & garden products online at Lowes.com. The cultivars Carex elata 'Aurea' (Bowles' golden sedge) and Carex oshimensis 'Evergold' have received the Royal Horticultural Society 's Award of Garden Merit. C2 | Studio Landscape Architecture Save Photo. For immediate help or to order plants call, article entitled : Carex - Fine Textural Sedges for the Perennial Shade Garden. Grasses out-compete many weeds and provide structure and support in diverse plantings, fuel for controlled burns and year-round visual interest. If you want to buy ornamental grass for a shady site then you should buy sedge instead. Carex (Sedge) species have attractive seed heads through spring and summer. ga('set', 'contentGroup1', 'Genus Page'); Sedge is a grass-like plant in the genus Carex. Season: mat-forming perennial. Pennsylvania Sedge, Carex pensylvanica, is a popular lawn alternative for home landscaping, with fine textured leaves and a creeping habit. Both ornamental and native sedge plants produce tiny seeds which feed some bird species, and many animals use the foliage to line and create nests. This grass is a cool-season perennial grass and ripens to a straw color in the summer. Jul 27, 2017 - Explore Prairie Nursery's board "Native Grasses and Sedges", followed by 1965 people on Pinterest. Stem: dark green, arising from purple rhizomes, with 3 subtending leaves… Carex was first characterized by Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in his 1753 Species Plantarum. Attractive, mounding ornamental grass with stiff lustrous green and creamy white striped blades. It is a handsome, low growing, clumping grass that will add a splash of yellow or green to your garden. 9241 Sauls Rd, Raleigh, NC 27603 | All rights reserved. See more ideas about native plants, ornamental grasses, plants. Sedge has colorful arching foliage and is evergreen in warm climates and semi-evergreen in colder areas. The grass … Check out our short article entitled : Carex - Fine Textural Sedges for the Perennial Shade Garden. Division. Sedges span both native varieties and hybridized versions. Keep them consistently moist but in the summer when their growth slows, be sure not to over water. Carex - Sedge Grass Plants This handsome, low growing, ornamental clumping grass will add a dash of textural color and structural interest to your garden. Also, unlike the ornamental grasses, the flowers of sedges are generally insignificant, so they are chiefly foliage plants. Its distinctive seed heads look like a bottlebrush, making this species popular as an ornamental grass. Found on lake and reservoir shores, yellow sedge is rare in Washington; our seed came from Baker Lake. Sedges are low-growing and early blooming, with a wide variety of attractive seed heads. These are some of the more common found in lawns: Yellow Nut Sedge … Erect when young, the grass-like leaves tend gradually to arch over time, curling gracefully towards their tips. Some species clump and some run. Find ornamental grasses at Lowe's today. Texas Warm-Season Grasses These plants play essential roles in a variety of ecosystems and habitats, ranging from the seacoast to alpine … Use mixes with good drainage. Carex health is easy to maintain with just a few growing tips. Sedge Lawns: A Sustainable, Low-Maintenance Alternative to Grass By John Greenlee | December 31, 2001 Few breakthroughs in the history of turf have been as significant as the arrival of an entirely new kind of lawn—the sedge lawn. However, the word is most commonly applied to the genus Carex. From a garden design standpoint, sedge is usually lumped together with other ornamental grasses, but Carex is actually not a grass, but a grass-like plant called a sedge in the family Cyperaceae. Sedges (we include the genera Carex, Eleocharis and Scirpus) are versatile choices for any site's sun and soil conditions. In form, carex is a perfect substitute for liriope and ophiopogon in shadier spots...but it needs a bit more consistent water than they do. Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in his 1753 species Plantarum grass seeds are an interesting bunch are chiefly plants! 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