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Home > Products > Specialty Crops > Sedges Have Edges: The Carex Page

Sedges Have Edges: The Carex Page

Meadow lawn planted at John Greenlee's house in Pomona, CA

The title of this page, "Sedges have edges" comes from the botanical rhyme:

Sedges have edges and rushes are round, grasses are hollow and rush all around
author unknown

The true sedges are in the genus Carex and are a major component of the family Cyperaceae. The genus was established by Carolus Linnaeus in his 1753 work "Species Plantarum". There are over 1,100 estimated species (perhaps as many as 2,000) with global distribution. Most but not all are found in wetlands. The name Carex comes from the Greek word "kerio" meaning "to cut", refering to the minute saw-tooth edges on the leaves.

These plants are important garden plants for many different situations. They range from diminutive miniature plants to large tussocks with foliage colors from red, orange, copper, silver to various shades of green and many cultivated forms are variegated. Some are clump forming and others spread by rhizomes. Information on the individual species we grow can be found by clicking on the following links or the species list below.

"An Imposter Identified: Berkeley Sedge is Eurasian Grey Sedge"- Article by Michael Curto from Jul/Aug/Sept 2006 Pacific Horticulture comparing the often confused Carex divulsa and C. tumulicola.*

"A Sedge by another name ..Is confusing" - Article by Michael Curto and Dave Fross in Jul/Aug/Sept 2006 Pacific Horticulture comparing the often confused Carex praegracilis and C. pansa.*

* Articles used with permission by Pacific Horticulture

We grow the following Sedges

now showing 1 - 17 of 17 Search String: carex

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	Carex albula		Frosty Curls Hair Sedge - Evergreen grass-like plant to 8-12 inches tall. Reseeds about in the garden. Full to part sun. Water regularly. Hardy to <15 degrees F.
	Carex brunnea		Narow Sedge - Grass-like plant w/neat tight clumps to 1 foot tall w/ thin dark green leaves. Give regular water. Full sun, light shade hardy to 10-15 F.
	Carex brunnea 'Variegata'		Golden-Edged Sedge - Grass-like plant w/neat tight clumps to 1 foot tall w/ thin pale yellow variegated leaves. Give regular water. Full sun, light shade hardy to 10-15 F.
	Carex buchananii		Curly Top Sedge - Evergreen grass-like plant with red-brown erect foliage to 2 feet tall. Sun/light Shade. Water regularly. Hardy to <15 degrees F.
	Carex divulsa [C. tumulicola, Hort.]		European Grey Sedge/ Berkeley Sedge - Evergreen grass-like plant to 2' wide x18" tall '. Brown flower in spring. Sun/Shade. Regular to occasional watering. Hardy <0 degrees F.
	Carex elata 'Bowles Golden' (Aquatic)		Golden Variegated Sedge - Semi-evergreen sedge with bright yellow foliage. Color fades later in season. Part sun. Keep moist. 2'x3'. Hardy to <15 degrees F
	Carex flacca		Blue Sedge - Evergreen grass-like plant to 6" tall and spreading w/blue-green lvs. Sun/Light Shade. Low-High water needs. Hardy to 0 degrees F. [C. glauca]
	Carex 'Ice Dance'		Ice Dance Sedge - Slowly spreading sedge to 12-15" tall with white margined green leaves. Full sun (coastal) to shade. Water regularly. Hardy <0 F.
	Carex oshimensis 'Everest'		White Variegated Japanese Sedge - Clumping, evergreen sedge to 1' tall & wide w/ white margined llvs. Plant is cool sun to shady. Well drained moist soil. Hardy to 0-20 degrees F.
	Carex oshimensis 'Evergold'		Variegated Japanese Sedge - Clumping, evergreen sedge, w/ variegated leaves. Likes shady, moist areas. 1-2 ft tall. 0-20 degrees F. Also known as C. morrowii 'Aurea-variegata'
	Carex phyllocephala 'Sparkler'		Sparkler Palm Sedge - Evergreen grass-like plant to 1-2' tall with variegated foliage. Light shade. Regular to abundant irrigation. Hardy to 10 degrees F.
	Carex praegracilis		California Field Sedge - Short rich green sedge to 6" tall - spreading by rhizomes. A great meadow "grass". Full sun to light shade. Moderate irrigation.
	Carex subfusca		Rusty Sedge - Native sedge to 10-12 inches tall - spreading by rhizomes. Good meadow filler. Sun or shade. Little to moderate water. Hardy.
	Carex sylvatica		Forest Sedge - Evergreen clump forming grass-like plant with dark green leaves in dense tufts 12"-18" tall. Plant in shade and water regularly. Hardy to 0-10 F.
	Carex testacea		Orange Sedge - Evergreen grass-like plant to 18" tall with orange-green fine foliage. Short lived but reseeds. Full sun. Regular water. Hardy to <15 degrees F.
	Carex texensis		Catlin Sedge - Evergreen clump forming sedge to 4-6" tall. Part sun. Moderate water needs. Green to brown flowers in summer. Cold hardy to <15 degrees F.
	Carex trifida 'Rekohu Sunrise' PP20,512		Variegated Tataki Grass - Upright evergreen clump sedge to 3' tall w/yellow margined green lvs & spike of summer brown flwrs. Coastal sun/light/shade. Regular H2O. Hardy to 0F.

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