Species Ebony Sedge
brown-green spikelets with lime leaves and stems

Ebony Sedge

Carex ebenea

Ebony Sedge (Carex ebenea) is an evergreen perennial native to North America. It grows up to 2 feet tall and prefers partial to full shade. Its bronze-colored foliage is dense and upright, giving this grassy plant a unique look. Ebony Sedge is quite tolerant of a range of soil conditions from boggy to dry as long as it is well drained. It loves being in a damp area and is a great addition to moisture-loving gardens like bog and water gardens. It is very low maintenance and can provide great ground cover in shady areas. It produces small insignificant flowers in the summer.

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Cutting,Seed Propagation,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

When it comes to watering, Ebony Sedge (Carex ebenea) should be watered moderately throughout the growing season. During the summer, water thoroughly, but avoid overwatering. In the cooler autumn months, reduce the amount of water to keep the soil slightly damp. During periods of excessive heat, water an extra amount to avoid the plant from drying out. Overall, the plant should receive about 1-2 inches of water per week.

sunlight

Ebony Sedge prefers full sun to partial shade and can tolerate light to moderate shade. It requires at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, ideally during the morning and late afternoon when the sun is not as intense. When grown in full sun, it will require more water than when grown in partial shade. During the summer months, it can handle the hot temperatures, but in the winter it will need to be protected from the worst cold winter conditions.

pruning

Ebony Sedge should be pruned in late winter or early spring. Pruning should be light, as these plants are not heavy pruners. Remove any dead or dying leaves with a sharp pair of shears, as close to the base of the plant as possible. Cut out any yellow or brown sections that are no longer producing new growth. Do not prune more than 1-third of the plant and allow the foliage to grow back as full as possible before pruning again.