Read a commented Japanese sedge profile here with information on growth, leaves, flowers and usage ideas. Tips worth reading about planting and caring for Carex morrowii.
What characterizes the Japanese sedge (Carex morrowii)?
The Japanese sedge (Carex morrowii) is an easy-care ornamental grass that grows in partially shaded to shady areas. It reaches a height of 30-40 cm, is hardy and non-toxic. Japanese sedges are suitable as ground cover, in perennial beds, Japanese gardens and as decorative potted plants on the balcony or terrace.
Profile
- Scientific name: Carex morrowii
- Family: Sourgrass family (Cyperaceae)
- Origin: Japan
- Growth type: Grass
- Growth habit: hemispherical, overhanging
- Growth height: 30 cm to 40 cm
- Leaf: linear-lanceolate, pointed
- Flower: Ear
- Roots: shallow roots
- Toxicity: non-toxic
- Winter hardiness: hardy
- Use: ornamental grass, ground cover
Growth
The Japanese sedge (Carex morrowii) is a perennial, herbaceous plant species from the sedge genus (Carex) within the sour grass family (Cyperaceae). The grass species is native to the cool, temperate climate of Japan, preferably in open forests, on the edge of trees and in shady, moist open areas. In Central Europe, the Japanese sedge is highly valued as a versatile ornamental grass with ground cover qualities. These growth characteristics are characteristic of a Japanese sedge:
- Growth habit: hemispherical, clump-forming, arching, evergreen stalks, upright flower spikes.
- Growth height: 30 cm to 40 cm.
- Growth width: 30 cm to 50 cm.
- Roots: shallow root system with short runners.
- Award: Perennial of the Year 2015
- Gardenically interesting properties: easy to care for, hardy, ground-covering, root pressure-tolerant, non-toxic, shade-tolerant.
Video: White and colorful Japanese sedge transforms barren wasteland into a green space worth seeing
Leaf
The Japanese sedge is characterized by a dense tuft of leaves with these characteristics:
- Leaf shape: linear, pointed, grass-like, triangular, sharp-edged, arched overhanging.
- Leaf properties: evergreen, wintergreen in hardiness zones Z5 and Z6.
- Leaf color: dark green
Bloom
Delicate lightness characterizes the appearance of a Japanese sedge when these flowers rise above the tuft of leaves:
- Flower shape: terminal spike.
- Flower color: yellowish-brown.
- Flowering time: March to May.
- Flower ecology: monoecious, separate sexes.
- Pollination: Wind
Pollinated flowers become achene fruits, which send flying seeds to the four winds in late summer.
Usage
With its unobtrusive, elegant appearance, the Japanese sedge is a source of inspiration for creative garden design. The following table provides an insight into the diverse possible uses:
| Garden Style | Plant idea |
|---|---|
| Japan Garden | Ground cover for shady niches |
| Rhododendron bed | conceals bare shrub base |
| Perennial bed | green companion of perennials all year round |
| Forest Garden | evergreen underplanting, weed suppression |
| Cemetery | easy-care grave planting as a solitaire and grave border |
| potted garden/balcony | beautiful in the balcony box and under privacy bushes |
When shrubs and hedges block the path to light, the Japanese sedge comes in handy as a beautiful ground cover all year round. The ornamental grass likes to communicate with perennials and acts as an evergreen gap filler. The Japanese sedge demonstrates its stylish qualities in Asian garden design, either in the large Japanese garden or in the authentic Zen garden on the balcony.
Planting Japanese sedge
The best time to plant the Japanese sedge is in autumn. The window of opportunity for planting on the balcony opens in spring. Carex morrowii purchased in containers can be planted at any time of year as long as the soil is not frozen or parched. Where and how to plant a Japanese sedge correctly, read here:
Location, soil, substrate
When choosing a location, the Japanese sedge proves its qualities as a problem solver for shady locations:
- Lighting conditions: partial shade to shade.
- Soil quality: fresh-moist, permeable, loamy-sandy, neutral to slightly acidic pH value.
- Substrate: potted plant or rhododendron soil without peat, enriched with expanded clay and coconut hum.
Mild summer sun does not harm the ornamental grass. However, if the Japanese sedge is planted in a location with blazing winter sun and cold wind, there is a risk of irreversible leaf damage.
Planting Tips
Before planting, please put on gloves and place the Japanese sedge with root balls in water. You can read useful planting tips here:
- In the open field, the Japanese sedge is planted as a group of 5 to 10 specimens.
- A planting hole has twice the volume of the root ball.
- Heavy clay soil is loosened with sand or coconut fiber substrate.
- The correct planting distance is 30 cm to 50 cm in the bed, 15 cm to 25 cm in the planter.
- First, a 5 cm thick layer of expanded clay is filled into the pot or balcony box as drainage.
Watering thoroughly on the day of planting and in the following weeks makes an important contribution to rooting in the bed and planter.
Excursus
Be careful of razor-sharp blade edges
Sedge grasses are not poisonous. However, hobby gardeners should not come into close contact with the ornamental grasses without protection. Razor-sharp leaf edges leave deep cuts. Work gloves with long cuffs protect against bloody skin injuries.
Maintaining the Japanese harrow
The Japanese sedge is very easy to care for. The simple care program is covered in just a few words. Don't miss these care tips:
Pouring
Please keep soil constantly slightly moist. Soft rainwater or decalcified tap water are primarily suitable as irrigation water. Drought stress causes irreversible brown leaf tips. Hard, lime-rich irrigation water causes the dark green leaves to yellow.
Fertilize
In the open field, the Japanese sedge is grateful for initial fertilization in March/April. Compost, horn shavings, bark humus and guano are well suited. Provide potted ornamental grass with a liquid fertilizer for green plants every month from March to September.
Cutting
Evergreen and wintergreen sedge grasses are not cut. On the contrary, pruning delays fresh shoots until early summer. In February, comb out isolated, dried stalks from the grass with both hands.
Propagation
You can propagate a Japanese sedge in the spring by dividing it. To do this, place the dug up perennial on a firm surface. Use a spade or knife to cut the root ball into several parts. Alternatively, cut fist-sized segments from the clump. The sections are planted again in loose, fresh, moist soil at the new location.
Wintering
Carex morrowii is attested to have a winter hardiness of up to -28° Celsius. No special winter protection precautions need to be taken for well-rooted, planted sedge grasses. Potted Japanese sedges, on the other hand, are susceptible to frost damage. How to properly overwinter a Japanese sedge:
- In the year of planting, mulch a Japanese sedge in the bed with leaves and needle twigs.
- Place the planter in a shady, wind-protected niche and cover it with fleece or jute.
- Winter care: water sparingly in dry conditions, do not fertilize.
Popular varieties
With these beautiful varieties, the Japanese sedge is applying for a place in the garden, on the balcony and on the terrace:
- Japan sedge 'Ice dance': Premium variety with white-edged, dark green stalks, beautiful as a hemispherical, carpet-forming ground cover, growth height 30 cm to 40 cm, growth width up to 50 cm.
- Carex morrowii 'Variegata': closes open ground areas outdoors as a decorative ornamental grass with green-white veined stalks and light yellow flower spikes in spring.
- Japanese gold-edged sedge: evergreen perennial companion with golden-yellow striped grass blades and yellowish ears from March.
- Carex morrowii 'Silver Scepter': low, cushion-forming Japanese sedge with white variegated leaves, ideal ground cover for the front garden, height 20 cm to 30 cm.
FAQ
Is a Japanese sedge poisonous?
No, the Japanese sedge does not contain any toxic ingredients. The sharp edges of the leaves should of course not be underestimated. One wrong movement in the nest can cause bloody cuts. Please always wear robust work gloves with cuffs when planting and caring for plants.
Should you cut a Japanese sedge?
The evergreen Japanese sedge does not necessarily have to be cut in spring. However, if winter leaves the ornamental grass with brown leaves or brown leaf tips, pruning is recommended. The decision needs to be carefully considered. In contrast to deciduous ornamental grasses, the Japanese sedge only sprouts fresh stalks after the flowering period.
Can the white-edged Japanese sedge also be planted in November?
The white-edged Japanese sedge (Carex morrowii 'Variegata') is hardy and very robust. Thanks to these properties, the ornamental grass can be planted at any time of the year as long as the ground is not frozen.
How does the Japanese sedge cope with winter sun when there is no tree foliage to provide shade?
As a ground cover under deciduous trees, the Japanese sedge is usually protected by the branches and fallen autumn leaves. In this case, there is no risk of leaf damage due to sunburn. However, if the winter sun hits the ornamental grass completely unfiltered, we recommend covering it with a shade net.
