Carex radiata - EASTERN STAR SEDGE

Excellent groundcovering, clump-forming native sedge with very fine texture of fresh green leaves.

Grows to about 1' (tall and wide, in ideal conditions up to 2'). Beautiful fresh green leaves appear very soon in the spring (cool season grass), stays in clumps and doesn't spread.

The growth is upright in spring, later with season the leaves arch down and in full summer they may lay down (and remind of untidy hair, see the picture) - at this time you can cut them back to new fresh leaves.

Best for half shade, dappled shade or dappled sun. It will tolerate full shade, but the clumps will be less dense and easier to flop/lay down. Average soils, pure clay, organic rich soil, loam with medium (average) moisture to medium-moist soils. As observed here in Bloomington and Indianapolis, it can tolerate summer droughts.

Hardy in zones 4 to 8.Native sedge in bigger portion of USA, see the USDA distribution map. Naturraly occurs in medium moist to moist deciduous woodlands, woodland edges, slopes and ravines (in both undisturbed and slightly degraded woodlands).

Deer, rabbit and black walnut resistant plant. Attracts songbirds, small insects feed on the leaves.

This is very valuable grass - it has good size, doesn't spread by rhizomes, has good ground covering habit and looks well for the most of the season (if desired, can be cut back).

Perfect for woodland garden, for naturalizing, for partial sun flower beds, as groundcover for larger areas (as the lawn substitute) or as a grass matrix with inserted plants like Aquilegia, Astilbe, Brunnera, Chrysogonum, Epimedium, Heuchera, Hosta, Iris cristata, Penstemon digitalis, Phlox divaricata, Polygonatum, Spigelia and many ferns.

Pictures copyright : US perennials nursery

Pot size : square 3.5" x 4" deep perennial pot