Species Merritt Fernald's Sedge

Merritt Fernald's Sedge

Carex merritt-fernaldii

Also Known As - Fernald's Sedge
Merritt Fernald's Sedge (Carex merritt-fernaldii) is a wispy ornamental grass that naturally occurs in meadows. It’s delicate, green foliage forms tightly- packed, compact tufts, and its stems grow in clumps up to 15- 20 inches tall. As it matures, fluffy reddish-brown spikes emerge from the foliage in summer. Prefers a moist but well-drained soil in full to partial sun, and is a great choice for rain gardens. This more-than-century-old native is fairly low maintenance and cold tolerant, and a great choice for erosion control. Its attractive features make it a perfect addition to wildlife friendly gardens, wildflower plantings, and xeric rock gardens.

Watering:

Minimal

Propagation:

Division,Cutting,Seed Propagation,Stolon

Hardiness Zone:

Flowers:

Yellow|Green/Brown Flowers

Sun:

Sun, Partial Shade

Soil:

Sand

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Merritt Fernald's Sedge should be watered deeply once a week during the growing season; shallow watering can be done in between deep watering if necessary. It does best when soil is kept evenly moist, but not soggy. Reduce the frequency of watering in winter when the plant is dormant.

sunlight

Merritt Fernald's Sedge is best grown in partial to full sun. This plant prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soils with consistent moisture. It does best in areas that get at least 4 hours of direct sunlight each day. During the hottest part of the day, it is best to provide some shade to protect the plant from intense heat and direct sunlight.

pruning

Merritt Fernald's sedge should be pruned once yearly in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Start by cutting about 1 third of the older stems with hand pruners. This will help maintain a healthy, dense shape. In addition, prune off any dead, damaged, or diseased stems. Prune too-tall stems to maintain the desired size of the plant. This will also help balance the sedge and will encourage branching. Try to minimize the amount of pruning you do, as this species often maintains its shape naturally.

Season

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

Merritt Fernald's Sedge typically starts flowering in May.