What plant could be more useful in the garden than one that’s evergreen and can handle deep, deep shade just fine? And once established, it’s super-drought-tolerant. Therefore be it resolved, I hereby nominate Carex as a Hero of Sustainable Gardening (and Climate Change)!
Details
- Foliage plant with negligible blooms.
- Evergreen — yes! Foliage comes in green, variegated green and white, gold, or bronze.
- Hardiness varies across the 2,000 species in this group, from Zone 5 southward.
- Examples in the photos above and below are the plain carex, which grows to about 2 feet tall. The photo on the right is of
the selection ‘Ice Dance,’ which is 4-6 inches tall and variegated green and white. (‘Ice Dance’ photo credit: Plant Delights Nursery)
Care
- None that mine have ever needed. But….
- They HATE being moved, so do it only when absolutely necessary, in spring or fall, and water it regularly til it’s established, especially if it’s in sun. Carex may LOOK as tough as liriope, but its little roots just can’t be yanked around the garden the way liriope’s roots can.
by Darke
by Tracy DiSabato-Aust is the best-selling book on how to make your perennials healthier and better-looking.
by Graham Rice is exhaustive and an outstanding general resource on the subject.
by Cutler and Ellis is another source I consult regularly.