Species Japanese grass sedge
Green-white leaves.

Japanese grass sedge

Carex morrowii

Japanese grass sedge (Carex morrowii) is an amazingly versatile, low-maintenance perennial that adds year-round interest to any garden. Its small deep green leaves create an attractive, evergreen-like carpet beneath trees and shrubs, making it an ideal choice for areas where traditional grasses tend to struggle. With a tolerance for wetter soils, this hardy perennial is perfect for areas that have consistent moisture and moisture-retaining soils. As an added bonus, it’s very drought tolerant. Its beautiful white and light green blooms appear in mid to late summer and last through the fall. Japanese grass sedge is an easy-care, attractive ornamental perfect for the shade or partial sun areas of any garden.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Division,Cutting,Seed Propagation,Stolon,Rhizome Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

5 - 9

Flowers:

Brown Flowers

Sun:

Part shade,full shade

Leaf:

Yes

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Japanese grass sedge is a hardy, evergreen perennial that requires minimal watering once established. As a general rule, water the plant every 7-10 days during the warmer months. Let the top inch of soil dry out in between waterings. Once the temperature starts to drop in the autumn and winter months, you may reduce watering to only 2-3 times a month. Impermeable mulches like rocks can be used between waterings to help retain moisture and reduce the amount of water necessary.

sunlight

Japanese grass sedge grows best when exposed to full sun for at least 6 hours per day. It can tolerate light shade but thrives when grown in direct sunlight. This plant species also tolerates drought once established, but will grow best when the soil is kept moist. During the summer months, Japanese grass sedge can benefit from part-sun to full-sun exposure each day. During the cooler months, it will do better in partial shade with more direct light for fewer hours than in the summer.

pruning

Japanese grass sedge should be pruned during the late winter or early spring, when the plant is still dormant. Prune the plants back to a few inches above the ground, to encourage vigorous growth and promote new foliage. Remove any tattered foliage, dead leaves, and any dead stalks that may have been missed in previous years. Japanese grass sedge can also be lightly sheared in late summer, to encourage more upright growth. It is best to avoid pruning heavily in mid-summer, as it can upset the balance of the plant.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Carex morrowii typically starts flowering in April.

Hardiness Map