Species Native to Missouri
Common Name: blue wood sedge
Type: Rush or Sedge
Family: Cyperaceae
Native Range: Southeastern North America
Zone: 5 to 8
Height: 0.50 to 1.00 feet
Spread: 0.50 to 1.00 feet
Bloom Time: May to June
Bloom Description: Greenish-white
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Rain Garden
Flower: Insignificant
Tolerate: Deer, Heavy Shade
Culture
Easily grown in medium to wet soils in part shade to full shade. Thrives in moist soils, but also does well in average garden soils and will tolerate some drought. Cut foliage to the ground and remove in late winter.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Carex flaccosperma, sometimes commonly called blue wood sedge, is native to eastern North America. In Missouri, Carex flaccosperma var. flaccosperma is typically found in wet woodland or swampy ground in the lowland section of southeastern Missouri, and Carex flaccosperma var. glaucodea is more typically found in drier acidic soils of wooded slopes, upland ridges, ravines or wooded valleys along streams (Steyermark). This is an evergreen sedge that forms attractive clumps (6-10” tall) of fine-textured, narrow, grass-like, glaucous, blue-green leaves (to 3/8” wide). It is grown in the landscape for its foliage effect. Greenish-white flowers in spring are insignificant.
Genus name from Latin means cutter in reference to the sharp leaves and stem edges (rushes are round but sedges have edges) found on most species' plants.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Mass or group in woodland gardens, shade gardens, borders or rock gardens. Effective accent for smaller gardens. Ground cover for shade gardens. Edging plant for paths or walkways. Also appropriate for areas with moist soils such as low spots and stream/pond margins.