Species Shaved Sedge
burgundy spikelets with lime-beige foliage

Shaved Sedge

Carex tonsa var. tonsa

Also Known As - Smooth Fruited Oak Sedge
Shaved Sedge (Carex tonsa var. tonsa) is a herbaceous perennial found in the damp, acidic soils of bogs and wetlands. It features slender, bright green leaves on slender stems that can reach up to 30 cm in height. These leaves have a unique texture, due to the fact that the edges of the grass blades are slightly serrated. Shaved Sedge produces abundance of small, light brown flower spikes from April through August. This plant provides essential cover for wetland wildlife and is highly tolerant of wet soils. It is also drought tolerant and a very hardy plant, making it an ideal addition to moist gardens.

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Cutting,Seed Propagation,Stolon

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

Shaved Sedge (Carex tonsa var. tonsa) should be watered deeply once a week during the growing season. To water, pour slowly and evenly at the base of the plant's foliage, allowing the water to penetrate the soil fully. Make sure not to leave any standing water around the base of the plant to prevent root rot and other issues. During periods of high rainfall, reduce the amount of water to avoid endangering the plants. During the winter months, watering should be reduced to once per month, if at all.

sunlight

Shaved Sedge (Carex tonsa var. tonsa) requires bright, direct sunlight for optimal growth. This species grows best in full sun to part shade, meaning 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily is ideal. Shaved Sedge will also tolerate partial shade for the remainder of the day, although it will grow more slowly. When grown in full sun, growth should be mostly complete by mid-summer. In more shaded conditions, growth will be slower and will typically be completed later in the summer.

pruning

Shaved Sedge should be pruned in late winter to early spring before new growth begins. Pruning is best done after the plant has finished blooming. Prune back the older growth to the base of the plant as well as remove any dead or diseased leaves or stems from the plant. Pruning will help to keep the plant looking neat and reduce the chance of disease. Generally, no more than 1-third of the foliage should be removed during pruning. However, if the plant is overgrown, up to 1-half of the foliage can be removed.