Carex plantaginea - Seersucker Sedge

 Sizes available: 2 quart

Basics: zones 4-8, 6-12" x 12-24", part to full shade, bright light green, quilted leaves, prefers moist woodland soils, but quite drought tolerant once established.

Common names: Seersucker Sedge, Plantain-leaved Sedge

Family: Cyperaceae

Origin/Distribution: native to Maine

Habitat: open woodland

More: Although Carex species are generally deer and rabbit resistant, I have noticed that this one gets munched in the winter. Since it is an evergreen sedge and the herbivory happens under snow cover, I am thinking voles. But no worry, it bounces back just fine. This sedge has a formal look and works very well in a tailored garden. More information coming soon.

Even more: If I could talk more gardeners into filling their spaces with Carex species, I would consider my life well lived. They are an excellent ground cover layer and there are species for every conceivable light and moisture condition. Some of them also make good lawn alternatives. They can be planted under trees, shrubs, and taller herbaceous layers, acting as living mulch, retaining moisture and suppressing weeds and looking good doing it. They offer top notch habitat for wildlife, providing shelter and food for birds, small mammals, and invertebrates, and acting as larval hosts for numerous species. Their fibrous root systems are good at holding banks, slopes, and edges. For the most part, they are deer and rabbit resistant. And last but not least, they provide structural backbone - variations in texture, color, and rhythm - to your ornamental beds. 

Source: Van Berkum

Image credits: Frank Meuschke of Shelterwood Gardens