New Zealand Hair Sedge Carex albula
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KAY-reks AL-bew-lah
- Description
-
Curly Sedge is a sedge native to the riverbanks of the South Island of New Zealand. It grows at a moderate rate to form one foot tall dense fountain-like clumps with narrow light green to buff cream leaves that provide year-round interest. Plant it where it will receive adequate weekly moisture and full sun to partial shade. This low growing plant is an evergreen commonly used in gardens beds to emphasize other plants with more dramatic foliage color or flowers. Planted in mass along a slope it can give the texture of moving water. It acts as a groundcover and can be applied in woodland gardens, along pool hardscapes or planted in grids in more modern gardens. It also looks at home planted along a pond bank, as an edging plant, or in rock gardens or containers. It reseeds itself easily and is drought, deer and wet sites tolerant. If you plant it in a wet area make sure the crown of the plant is above water as it does not withstand submersion.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Frosted Curls'
Narrow evergreen leaves - 'Frosted Curls'
- 'Frosted Curls', 'Frosty Curls'
- Tags:


- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Frosted Curls'
Narrow evergreen leaves - 'Frosted Curls'
- 'Frosted Curls', 'Frosty Curls'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Carex
- Species:
- albula
- Family:
- Cyperaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- New Zealand South Island
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant supports various Satyr larvae.
- Play Value:
- Wind Shimmer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Cascading
- Clumping
- Dense
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are not showy, this plant is prized for its leaves.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- White
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Delicate gray-green leaves turn silvery as they age. Narrow leaf blades that curve back toward the ground and look a bit like hair. The leaves remain on the plant and provide year-round interest especially in winter gardens.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Meadow
- Pond
- Pool/Hardscape
- Riparian
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Water Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Erosion
- Wet Soil