![]() ![]() In the landscape, we suggest cutting them back only if the foliage appearance becomes undesirable. They’re also slower to recover from being cut back than grasses. They’re slower growing than grasses and take longer to finish in container production. ![]() They tend to be more sensitive to cultural conditions, such as soil moisture, salt concentrations, and temperature fluctuations. While they are relatively resilient plants, sedges can be more challenging to grow than grasses. They bloom in spring or early summer, and their growth slows as soil and air temperatures rise in full summer. As fall approaches and temperatures start to cool, Carex will begin more active growth until the onset of winter. Yeats 1899 poem “He Hears the Cry of the Sedge” and in two of Shakespeare’s plays: Much Ado About Nothing and The Tempest.Īll Carex species are cool-season plants, growing most actively during spring and fall. Sedges are referenced by great literary artists, appearing in in W. We find these illustrations showing Carex form and reproductive structures helpful as we learn to identify and understand these fascinating plants. Botanists continue to discover the intricacies of Carex as they work to define its distinguishing structures. Distinctive inflorescences, fused sheaths, and inconspicuous nodes also set them apart from true grasses and rushes. The common name lends rhyme to the saying “Sedges have edges, and rushes are round, but grasses have nodes from their tips to the ground.” The “edges” refer to their stems, which are triangular in cross section. Among this large group of species, almost 500 are native to North America. Unlike true grasses (in Poaceae), all Carex are cool-season plants. Whereas most genera with a large number of species include a range of growth forms, all Carex species are herbaceous perennials. It is one of the largest genera of vascular plants and can be found in almost every ecosystem worldwide. The genus now contains around 2000 species, and an entire branch of botany called caricology is devoted to the study of Carex. He named fewer than 30 Carex species, but his introduction set off extensive study by botanists. 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.”Ĭarex was first characterized by Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in his 1753 Species Plantarum. However, the word is most commonly applied to the genus Carex. Plantsman Rick Darke notes that “sedge” refers to any of the nearly 4000 species in the Cyperaceae family. Native sedges are a diverse group and there is bound to be one that fits almost any set of cultural conditions you have.įor a look at the ways sedges fit your growing program or landscape project, start with our Sedges Make Sense blog series. They're important component of restoration projects, naturalizing, and green infrastructure features, such as bioretention and bioswales. They're a smart choice as a living mulch or alternative to the traditional lawn, especially in shady locations. North American sedges have stepped into the spotlight for many reasons. New Zealand also brings us the intriguing orange-tipped foliage of Carex testacea ‘Prairie Fire’. buchananii 'Red Rooster' stands out against the green backdrop of other plants' foliage. The sedges from New Zealand can take more sun and add zest wherever planted. Although most sedges are not grown for their flowering, blooms on Asian species are often more prominent than their relatives from other parts of the world. Their vibrancy adds brightness and depth to shady spots, and almost all are suited to container plantings. Sedges from Asia are well adapted to shade and are often variegated. Most of the Carex we grow fit into three distinct groups. To see a side-by-side comparison of the Carex we offer, download our Carex Comparison Chart. It’s marked by its diversity in color, texture, and cultural adaptation. In the trade, most of the plants we call sedges are in the genus Carex. Or, call us at (877) 309-7333 for help.They look similar to grasses, but sedges reside in the Cyperaceae family and are not true grasses. Please feel free to browse our selection and sign up for our newsletter to be notified when these products are available for next season! We often have similar items available, so please utilize our search or filters (on the left) to explore other options. The following items are either out of season or we've sold out of our inventory. We're sorry, but the following items are currently unavailable
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