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Native alternative(s) for Carex phyllocephala:
Carex glaucescens Carex glaucescens
Carex grayi Gray’s Sedge
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Carex albula Carex albula 'Frosty Curls'
Carex conica 'Snow Line' Carex conica
Carex elata Carex elata

Carex phyllocephala

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
KAY-reks fye-lo-SEPH-ah-lah
Description

When this Chinese native is in a mass planting with leaves in whorls clustered at top it resembles a grove of miniature variegated palm trees. The green plants tend to be more cold hardy than cultivars. It grows best in moist organic well-drained soil and is attractive foliage but not particularly showy.

Form:  Tall cane-like stems

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Sparkler'
'Sparkler'
Tags:
#evergreen#sedge#ornamental grass#pollinator plant#larval host plant#wet soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#HS302#various satyr butterfly#perennial#wildlife friendly
 
Carex phyllocephala 'Sparkler'
Carex phyllocephala 'Sparkler' Megan Hansen CC-BY-SA 2.0
Carex phyllocephala
Close up of leaves Gardening in a Minute CC BY-NC 2.0
Carex phyllocephala 'Sparkler'
Carex phyllocephala 'Sparkler' flowers Megan Hansen CC-BY-SA 2.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Sparkler'
'Sparkler'
Tags:
#evergreen#sedge#ornamental grass#pollinator plant#larval host plant#wet soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#HS302#various satyr butterfly#perennial#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Carex
    Species:
    phyllocephala
    Family:
    Cyperaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    China
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant supports various Satyr larvae.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
    Perennial
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • 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 Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Wet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Spike
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Description:
    Brown flower spike
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Variegated
    White
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Whorled
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    1-2 ft. stems ending in a whorl of spreading leaves
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Heavy Shade
    Wet Soil