Gardening Landscaping Grasses

10 Popular Sedges for Ornamental Garden Use

By
David Beaulieu
David Beaulieu
David Beaulieu

David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience.

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and
Les Engels
A picture of Les Engels
Les Engels
Les Engles achieved Master Gardener through the Camden County Extension of the Rutgers Master Gardeners Program. He is an arboretum curator with over 30 years of experience. He describes himself as a "tree-hugging dirt worshipper" who is a member of multiple gardening societies and foundations.
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Updated on 01/18/24
Reviewed by
Julie Thompson-Adolf
Julie Thompson-Adolf
Reviewed by Julie Thompson-Adolf

Julie Thompson-Adolf is a Master Gardener and author with over 30 years of experience in year-round organic gardening; seed starting, growing heirlooms, and sustainable farming.

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Variegated Japanese sedge with two-toned leaves

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

There are more than 2,000 species of sedge plants in the Carex genus; they are typically weedy or grass-like, and some varieties are even popular ornamental garden plants in North America. Sedges can be very colorful, providing a garden with colors ranging from green to yellow to red and even purple. Even though they do flower (and, in some cases, a subtly attractive seed head succeeds the blooms), they are grown mainly as foliage plants.

Sedge Plant Characteristics

Most sedges are perennials. Their stems are solid and triangular in shape and they grow from 3 to 36 inches tall. They grow best in areas with wet soil. Sedges spread by rhizomes and have an average lifespan of 2 to 10 years.

Sedge Plant Care Tips

Where to Plant

Sedges should be planted in an area with partial shade or filtered sun. A great spot is under a tree, which tends to be a moist, shady area. Truly, they are not very fussy and will grow well in many areas, but for it to thrive you should focus on giving it its ideal light conditions.

How to Plant

For planting a single sedge as an accent, transplant your sedge into a pot 2 or 3 times the size of the original pot and plant the entire pot (yes, the entire pot) in the spot you want your sedge. This will help stop the plant spreading.

If you want to take advantage of the plant's spreading and clumping habit, plant multiple plants about 1 inch apart. The plants should fill in by the end of the season, providing you with complete ground coverage.

Growing Needs

Sedges are not particularly fussy. Their growing needs are usually adaptable, but sedges will do best in areas with partial sun or shade. It prefers moist soil that is sandy, loamy or clay which is either acidic or alkaline.

Most sedges are drought tolerant, but as they prefer moist soil, it is best to water them abundantly.

Types of Sedges

Here are 10 types of sedges to consider growing.

  • 01 of 10

    Spark Plug Palm Sedge (Carex phyllocephala 'Spark Plug')

    Carex Spark Plug with variegated leaves.
    David Beaulieu

    Some types of sedge offer ornamental value through variegated leaves, like Carex phyllocephala 'Spark Plug'. Carex phyllocephala falls into the palm-sedge category. The 'Spark Plug' cultivar is a great substitute for invasive ribbon grass (Phalaris arundinacea). It reaches about 1 foot tall, with a spread of slightly less than that. It's not a perennial north of zone 7, but some Northerners treat them as annuals. Grow this plant in wet soil if you want it to reach its maximum size; it will survive in soil of average moistness, but it will stay smaller under such conditions.

    • Native Area: China
    • USDA Growing Zones: 8 to 10
    • Height: 1 foot
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade to full shade
  • 02 of 10

    Leatherleaf Sedge (Carex buchananii)

    Clumps of Carex buchananii.


    seven75/Getty Images

    Of a similar height is leatherleaf sedge. But that is where the comparisons end. The ornamental value of leatherleaf sedge is provided by the coppery color of its leaves. It forms dense clumps, whereas 'Spark Plug' is more loosely put together. The leaves of the leatherleaf also have a finer texture. This type of sedge, while tolerant of partial shade, will color up better in full sun. A popular cultivar of leatherleaf sedge is 'Red Rooster.' Provide this type of sedge with a wet soil.

    • Native Area: New Zealand
    • USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 9
    • Height: 2 to 3 feet
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • 03 of 10

    Bowles' Golden Tufted Sedge (Carex elata 'Aurea')

    Carex elata 'Aurea' with flower heads and golden foliage.

    AlpamayoPhoto/Getty Images

    Bowles' golden tufted sedge will brighten up your garden with its golden leaves. This deer-resistant perennial, while tolerant of full shade, will perform much better in partial shade. Since it needs wet soil, it is an excellent choice for water gardens. It is another dense, clump-forming plant.

    • Native Area: Western Eurasia
    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
    • Height: 1.5 to 2.5 feet
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade to full shade
  • 04 of 10

    Gold Fountains Sedge (Carex dolichostachya ‘Gold Fountains’)

    Closeup of Gold Fountains Sedge

    David J. Stang / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0


    Gold Fountains has foliage with less gold in it than does Carex elata 'Aurea'. But it lives up to the "Fountains" in its cultivar name in two ways: It has gracefully arching leaves, and it likes wet soil. This is another sedge that, while tolerant of full shade, will perform much better in partial shade (though they need a certain amount of sunshine to achieve their full color potential). Take advantage of the narrow leaves of Gold Fountains by pairing it with a Hosta, creating a contrast in textures.

    • Native Area: East Asia
    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
    • Height: 1 foot
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade to full shade
    Continue to 5 of 10 below
  • 05 of 10

    Blue Sedge (Carex flacca, or "Carex glauca")

    Blue sedge.


    fotolinchen/Getty Images

    For a different look in terms of color, grow a blue sedge. There are various types of sedges that you can plant if you want a bluish, grass-like plant, including the Carex flacca cultivar, 'Blue Zinger'. This plant produces clumps of soft foliage that invites a touch from the human hand. Its love of moist soils makes it a great candidate for your water garden. While it spreads via rhizomes, it is generally not such a vigorous spreader that it will become a problem.

    • Native Area: Southern Europe and North Africa
    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
    • Height: 5 to 12 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • 06 of 10

    Variegated Japanese Sedge (Carex morrowii 'Variegata')

    Variegated Japanese sedge with two-toned leaf blades clustered together closeup

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    This cultivar of Japanese sedge is another that sports two-toned leaves. It produces a dense clump, spreads via rhizomes, and likes wet soil. In spring it bears coppery-brown flowers, but they are insignificant compared to the ornamental value of the foliage. While the plant is grown for its leaves, its flowers do attract bees and butterflies. Partial shade is ideal for it: With too much sun, the leaves may bleach out, but with total shade, the plant will underperform.

    • Native Area: Japan
    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
    • Height: 1.5 feet
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade to full shade
  • 07 of 10

    Bronze New Zealand Hair Sedge (Carex comans 'Bronze Form')

    Bronze New Zealand sedge.

    Nahhan/Getty Images

    In terms of water requirements, Bronze New Zealand hair sedge is in-between—just do not let its soil dry out completely. With its gently cascading foliage, this is another "soft" sedge. But its chief ornamental feature is the reddish-bronze color of its wispy leaves. Consider displaying several of them as edging plants along a brick walkway.

    • Native Area: New Zealand
    • USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 10
    • Height: 1 to 2 feet
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial sun
  • 08 of 10

    Orange New Zealand Hair Sedge (Carex testacea 'Prairie Fire')

    Orange New Zealand hair sedge with its fiery foliage.


    FredCollin/Getty Images

    Orange New Zealand hair sedge is very similar to the Bronze New Zealand hair sedge, right down to its water requirements and potential uses in the landscape. It may well be the more popular of the two, though, because its color is more intense. But it is just a bit less cold-hardy: If you live in zone 6, you may be forced to grow the less-stunning (but still plenty attractive) Bronze New Zealand hair sedge.

    • Native Area: New Zealand
    • USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 9
    • Height: 1 to 2 feet
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial sun
    Continue to 9 of 10 below
  • 09 of 10

    Evergold Japanese Variegated Sedge (Carex oshimensis 'Evergold')

    Clumps of Carex oshimensis 'Evergold.'

    seven75/Getty Images

    The overall effect of this variegated sedge with arching foliage is golden, even though neither of the two colors involved is gold. Green margins on the leaf set off an interior of creamy yellow, giving the impression of gold. Install several as a ground cover to brighten an area in partial shade. This sedge prefers wet soil, where it will spread a bit via rhizomes, but it will survive in an area with just average amounts of moisture, too.

    • Native Area: Japan
    • USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
    • Height: 12 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to Partial shade
  • 10 of 10

    Mountain Sedge (Carex montana)

    Tufts of mountain sedge.


    Elizabeth Fernandez/Getty Images

    If you live where it gets really cold in winter (zone 4), you have to narrow down your possibilities to only the cold-hardiest of sedges. Mountain sedge will be one of your best bets. It offers the added benefit of being tolerant of alkaline soil. It's also a good choice if you want a short sedge (averaging 6 inches in height). Adding some interest to its shiny green leaves are spikes of brown flowers in spring. Since this is a spreading sedge, it makes for a good ground cover.

    • Native Area: Europe and Central Russia
    • USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 10
    • Height: 4 to 8 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade
FAQ
  • What is the difference between a sedge and a grass?

    Sedge leaves have edges, and grass leaves have nodes all along the sides.

  • Is sedge grass invasive?

    Some sedge grass can be invasive if left to grow unchecked. There are native sedges you can plant that may be less invasive, or you can go with a clumping sedge and constantly prune and fight it.

  • How fast does a sedge spread?

    Sedges can spread three to each inches per year.