The un-grasses
“Sedges have edges, Reeds are round Grasses are hollow Like a hole in the ground.”
that they require very little care. Less well known but making an appearance to great effect are the sedges and reeds. They too take little care and can some- times solve problems in wet and shady areas.
G Sedges (Carex) Sedges are of a genus known as Carex.
Flowers are small and arranged in spikes. Many varieties enjoy wet condi- tions, although some are drought toler- ant. You often see them growing wild in ditches. They will grow in shade, making them very useful in the garden. Sedges tend to have a wispy grow-
ing habit, sending out graceful sprays of leaves growing from a clump. Some are stoloniferous so be prepared to keep them in check as they begin to spread underground. Carex dipsacea or autumn sedge
turns a lovely reddish orange in fall. It likes moist soil, full sun to light shade and grows 12 to 18 inches tall. Hardy only to zone 5. Carex aurea, golden sedge,
likes it
wet and is useful around ponds. It is a pretty, fine-textured plant with medium green foliage and round yellow seed heads. Full sun to light shade and happy in zone 3 and even lower. Carex morrowi variegata ‘Ice Dance’
may be the answer to your shade woes. Clump forming, it is happy in part to full shade, although it likes fairly wet condi- tions, where it will spread moderately. It tolerates nibbling by deer. Mulch in zones lower than 5. Leaves have lovely white margins. It makes a good ground cover in a shady area. Carex glauca, blue sedge, has steel
Horsetail reed. 20 • Winter 2014
blue foliage in a mounded form. Grows eight inches tall with a 12-inch spread and will live up to 10 years. Great in shade and in average to wet conditions. Zone 4, but has been successful in zone 3.
www.localgardener.net
rasses are very popular in today’s gardens, partly because of their structural beauty and the fact
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