Carex plantaginea - SEERSUCKER SEDGE
One of the most beautiful native sedges, with unique 1" wide, freshly green leaves.
Top performer for shade in Mt. Cuba Carex trials, gaining 4.2 points out of 5.
Slower growing, groundcovering, in good conditions forms small colonies.
Requires shade location, otherwise the tips of the leaves turn brown in the spring (don't cut too deeply too).
Blooming Time: March to March/April
Size: 9" high and 12" wide clumps, slowly spreading
USDA Zones: 4 to 8
Culture: full shade, half to dappled shade, average soils with some organic matter, rich soils. Seems to benefit from some drainage - avoid waterlogged soils. Adaptable to even a bit drier, rocky or gritty soils.
Moisture Needs: average (medium), drought tolerant once established
Origin: Native to eastern USA, often found on woodland slopes, rich deciduous woods, limestone and sandstone ravines, see the USDA distribution map.
Black walnut tolerance: yes
Deer/Rabbit Resistant: yes / yes
Attracts Butterflies or Pollinators: no/no, but Foliage can be source of food of various insects, including the caterpillars of the Appalachian Brown butterfly.
Attracts Hummingbirds: no, but seeds are eaten by woodland birds, including Wild Turkey and the chicks of Ruffed Grouse.
Pot Size: square 3.5" x 4" deep pot
Picture copyright: US Perennials nursery
Plant combinations: Best in woodland (half shade/shade) garden, under bigger trees or shrubs. Goes well with fine-leaved Carex (sedges), Deschampsia, Hakonechloa. Other good companions can be Anemone hupehensis (japonica hybrids), Aquilegia, Aruncus, Astilbe, Astrantia (in cooler areas), Brunnera, Cimicifuga (Actaea), Chrysogonum, Dicentra, Epimedium, Gallium odoratum, hardy Geraniums, Geum, Gillenia, Heuchera and Heucherella, Hosta, Iris tectorum, Polemonium, Phlox stolonifera, Polygonatum, Pulmonaria, Spigelia, Tiarella, Waldsteinia, ferns and all spring ephemerals or spring bulbs.
Carex plantaginea - SEERSUCKER SEDGE
One of the most beautiful native sedges, with unique 1" wide, freshly green leaves.
Top performer for shade in Mt. Cuba Carex trials, gaining 4.2 points out of 5.
Slower growing, groundcovering, in good conditions forms small colonies.
Requires shade location, otherwise the tips of the leaves turn brown in the spring (don't cut too deeply too).
Blooming Time: March to March/April
Size: 9" high and 12" wide clumps, slowly spreading
USDA Zones: 4 to 8
Culture: full shade, half to dappled shade, average soils with some organic matter, rich soils. Seems to benefit from some drainage - avoid waterlogged soils. Adaptable to even a bit drier, rocky or gritty soils.
Moisture Needs: average (medium), drought tolerant once established
Origin: Native to eastern USA, often found on woodland slopes, rich deciduous woods, limestone and sandstone ravines, see the USDA distribution map.
Black walnut tolerance: yes
Deer/Rabbit Resistant: yes / yes
Attracts Butterflies or Pollinators: no/no, but Foliage can be source of food of various insects, including the caterpillars of the Appalachian Brown butterfly.
Attracts Hummingbirds: no, but seeds are eaten by woodland birds, including Wild Turkey and the chicks of Ruffed Grouse.
Pot Size: square 3.5" x 4" deep pot
Picture copyright: US Perennials nursery
Plant combinations: Best in woodland (half shade/shade) garden, under bigger trees or shrubs. Goes well with fine-leaved Carex (sedges), Deschampsia, Hakonechloa. Other good companions can be Anemone hupehensis (japonica hybrids), Aquilegia, Aruncus, Astilbe, Astrantia (in cooler areas), Brunnera, Cimicifuga (Actaea), Chrysogonum, Dicentra, Epimedium, Gallium odoratum, hardy Geraniums, Geum, Gillenia, Heuchera and Heucherella, Hosta, Iris tectorum, Polemonium, Phlox stolonifera, Polygonatum, Pulmonaria, Spigelia, Tiarella, Waldsteinia, ferns and all spring ephemerals or spring bulbs.