Carex morrowii
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KAY-reks mor-ROW-ee-eye
- Description
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Morrow’s sedge is a grass-like herbaceous perennial in the sedge family (Cyperaceae) native to Japan. The species epithet honors Dr. James Morrow, a botanist and agricultural scientist who accompanied Commodore Matthew C. Perry on his expeditions to open Japan to international trade.
Morrow’s sedge grows in moist, acidic soil in any light conditions, but a site in full sun will need constant moisture. In shadier sites, the plant can tolerate occasional droughts. It is an easy-to-grow, trouble-free, ornamental sedge.
This evergreen sedge is good for mass planting in beds under trees and shady borders, or it can be used as an accent plant in a container or rock garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Rarely troubled by aphids and rhizoctonia.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Shaded Slope
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- EverColor® ‘Everglow’
Green leaves with cream margins. Leave turn orangish in winter. - 'Fishers Form'
Variegated edged in creamy white, very upright habit - 'Gold Band'
- 'Ice Dance'
Cream-white margins - 'Silk Tassel'
Showy white margins on fine, thread-like leaves. - 'Variegata'
Green margins and a white central stripe
- EverColor® ‘Everglow’
- EverColor® ‘Everglow’, 'Fishers Form', 'Gold Band', 'Ice Dance', 'Silk Tassel', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
























- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- EverColor® ‘Everglow’
Green leaves with cream margins. Leave turn orangish in winter. - 'Fishers Form'
Variegated edged in creamy white, very upright habit - 'Gold Band'
- 'Ice Dance'
Cream-white margins - 'Silk Tassel'
Showy white margins on fine, thread-like leaves. - 'Variegata'
Green margins and a white central stripe
- EverColor® ‘Everglow’
- EverColor® ‘Everglow’, 'Fishers Form', 'Gold Band', 'Ice Dance', 'Silk Tassel', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Carex
- Species:
- morrowii
- Family:
- Cyperaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & S. Japan
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Dense
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- 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:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Spike
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Short-lived spikes with 4-6 small flowers in spring.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Flat, thick, 1/4- to 1/2-inch wide, dark green, edged in white, 12 inches long.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Riparian
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Fairy Garden
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil