Plantain-Leaf Sedge (Carex)
Perennial
- Lush green foliage for shade gardens.
- Showy flower spikes on purple stems arise in spring!
- Ideal for borders or massed with other shade garden staples.
- Zone 4-8, shade, partial sun, 8”-24” x 12”-24”
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Native to most of eastern North America, from New Brunswick to Georgia, west to Minnesota, and Iowa the Seersucker Sedge is actually considered rare and endangered. Great companion plants to hostas, most carex perform their best when grown in a moist location, although they are somewhat tolerant of neglect and resistant to deer.
Details
Common name: Seersucker Sedge, Plantain Leaved Sedge
Zone: 4-8
Sun exposure: Shade (< 4 hours sun) to part-sun (4-6 hours sun)
Height x width: 8”-24” x 12”-24”
Flower color: Purple-brown
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Year round
Bloom time: Spring
Features: Native, suitable for slopes, heat tolerant, ground covers, dry soils, drought tolerant, container plants, cold tolerant.
Uses: Lawn substitute, container plant, edging, erosion control, ground cover, massing, rain garden, slopes, small spaces, underplanting, waterside, woodland.
How to Grow
Light: Partial sun, shade.
Water: Low, average.
Spacing: 12”-24” apart
Fertilizing: Apply a granular slow-release fertilizer with a balanced formula to the soil that surrounds the base.
Winterizing: No extra care needed.
Maintenance & pruning: Shear the foliage down to about 1 inch in mid-February to early March. If you wait too long to trim the sedge, you'll cut off the early-rising flowers, too.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.