Species Golden Fruit Sedge
Green-yellow leaves

Golden Fruit Sedge

Carex aurea

Also Known As - Golden Sedge
Golden Fruit Sedge (Carex aurea) is a perennial grass-like plant native to wetlands and moist meadows throughout North America. Growing up to 1 m in height, it has a clumping growth habit and produces long, golden-yellow, cylindrical seed heads rising above the arching, bright green foliage. It's an attractive ornamental choice for damp areas of the garden, such as bog gardens or near water features, where it will grow year-round. It's also great for helping to reduce soil erosion and providing food and habitat for wildlife.

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Cutting,Seed Propagation,Rhizome Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

Flowers:

Green/Brown Flowers

Sun:

full sun,part sun/part shade

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

gold,green

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

watering

Golden Fruit Sedge prefers moist soil conditions, and as such should be watered when the top 2 inches of soil begins to dry. The easiest way to determine when the plant needs to be watered is to stick your finger into the soil. The soil should feel moist but not damp when it is time to water. The amount of water required will vary depending on the weather and the soil type, but a general guideline would be about 1-2 inches per week. It's important to try to keep the soil evenly moist, since this will help the plant to thrive and remain healthy. If the soil is too wet for too long, the roots may rot. It's best to provide a light, consistent watering rather than a large, infrequent one.

sunlight

Golden Fruit Sedge is a warm season grass that thrives in full sun to part shade but can tolerate almost any conditions. It prefers moist, fertile soils but can handle dry sites. Full sun means at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day; this should be in the morning, rather than in the afternoon. Part shade means 4-6 hours of direct sunlight. During the hotter months, plants may need some afternoon shade to protect them from scorching temperatures that can cause damage or death.

pruning

Golden Fruit Sedge should be pruned once a year in late winter (January to March). Pruning should include trimming the shoots and removing any dead or damaged stems, as well as any spent flower heads. When pruning, take care not to remove more than 1-third of the plant's foliage. This will help to maintain a healthy balance of foliage and flowers for the following seasons. Additionally, removing seed plumes before they have a chance to disperse can help to prevent unwanted spread of the plant.

Season

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

Golden Fruit Sedge typically starts flowering in May.