Many are valuable evergreen foliage plants, others subtle flowering types. Contrary to popular myth there are Carex for all soil types, from shallow water to pure sand!
Listed under both C. hachijoensis and C. oshimensis this plant has a rich green foliage broadly centred creamy yellow. Clump forming to 20cm high and 40cm across. Not dry soil.
Low growing mats of bright green leaves and short stems carrying heads of rich brown flowers in spring. Good groundcover for good soil in sun or shade. 15cm.
A new form with a rather dodgy name! This has fine greyish brown foliage and small heads of brown flowers on very long trailing stems. Average to good soil in sun. 30cm.
Broad blue-grey leaves are nearly evergreen in average to moist soil in light shade. Insignificant flowers in spring to 30cm. Confusion over the correct name but it is a lovely plant!
Evergreen clumps of fresh silvery green foliage produce stems to 60cm with several spikes of drooping flowers/seeds. Ordinary to moist soil in sun or shade.
Collected in the Western Cascades, Clackamas Co., Oregon. Clumps of greyish green foliage and pretty flowers on arching stems to 60cm. Good soil in sun or light shade. Early new growth is attractive.
A very dwarf form of the North American Palm Sedge. Stems with whorls of tiny leaves are topped with golden brown flowers in summer. Best in good soil in shade or part shade. 20cm.
A hardy sedge with a tropical look. Golden yellow margins to the rich green palm-like foliage on stems to 40cm. Chestnut brown flowers are produced in summer on the tops of the stems.
A variable creamy yellow variegation lifts the grey-green foliage on this form of the native Black Sedge. Creeping tufts to 30cm high, but it never seems to make too much of itself. Good to moist sioil in sun or light shade.
A rare North American species related to C muskingumensis producing clumps of upright stems with bright green leaves arranged like a palm. Flower spikes are clusters of rounded spikelets up to 50cm although it grows much taller in its native habitat. Moist soil in sun.
Loose clumps of evergreen, arching, deep green foliage. Upright stems arch at the tops bearing showy blackish flowers in early summer. Good soil in sun. 1m.
Clumps of shiny, bright green foliage for a year-round effect. Useful as a container plant or edging/groundcover under shrubs or trees. 30cm. Good soil in shade or part shade.
A recent introduction this form has green leaves with cream, silver and pale yellow stripes. Not spectacular but a good subtle variegation. Usual flowers on stems to 1.5m. Shade.
Neat clumps of very fine bright green leaves on this evergreen native sedge. Delicate pale green flowers in spring/summer. Best in good soil in shade. 20cm.
A super species from New Zealand this makes good clumps of dark chocolate brown leaves that turn reddish in drier, sunny positions. Ideal for moist sun but tolerates a range of soil types. 45cm.
