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ornamental grass

Creek Sedge

Carex amphibola

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Creek Sedge (Carex amphibola) at Lakeshore Garden Centres

Creek Sedge flowers

Creek Sedge flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Plant Height:  12 inches

Flower Height:  16 inches

Spacing:  12 inches

Sunlight:  partial shade  full shade 

Hardiness Zone:  3a

Description:

A robust, semi-evergreen variety producing narrow, shiny foliage and scaly green flower spikes in late spring; this attractive, shaggy, mounded sedge is perfect for woodland or shade gardens that have moist to wet soil

Ornamental Features

Creek Sedge is primarily valued in the garden for its cascading habit of growth. It features dainty spikes of green hop-like flowers with chartreuse overtones rising above the foliage from late spring to early summer. Its attractive glossy grassy leaves remain forest green in colour throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes

Creek Sedge is an herbaceous evergreen perennial grass with a shapely form and gracefully arching stems. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Creek Sedge is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • Border Edging
  • General Garden Use
  • Groundcover
  • Container Planting
  • Bog Gardens

Planting & Growing

Creek Sedge will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity extending to 16 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 16 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 12 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It is quite adaptable, prefering to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is particular about its soil conditions, with a strong preference for rich, acidic soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is native to parts of North America. It can be propagated by division.

Creek Sedge is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, most plants cannot be expected to survive the winter if left in containers outdoors, and this plant is no exception. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight Soil pH Preference
Characteristics
Massing  Edging  Garden  Groundcover  Container  Bog 
Applications
Flowers  Foliage Color  Texture  Plant Form 
Ornamental Features