''Carex morrowii'', the kan suge, Morrow's sedge, Japanese grass sedge or Japanese sedge (a name it shares with ''
Carex oshimensis
''Carex oshimensis'', the Japanese sedge (a name it shares with '' Carex morrowii''), is a species of flowering plant in the genus ''Carex'', native to Japan. With its striped foliage, it is widely used as a nonspreading ground cover. Its cultiva ...
''), is a species of flowering plant in the family
Cyperaceae
The Cyperaceae () are a family of graminoid (grass-like), monocotyledonous flowering plants known as wikt:sedge, sedges. The family (biology), family is large; botanists have species description, described some 5,500 known species in about 90 ...
.
It is native to central and southern Japan, and has been introduced to Belgium, Denmark and Austria.
An ornamental
sedge
The Cyperaceae () are a family of graminoid (grass-like), monocotyledonous flowering plants known as wikt:sedge, sedges. The family (biology), family is large; botanists have species description, described some 5,500 known species in about 90 ...
with a large number of (mostly variegated) cultivars, it tolerates heavy shade and wet soil, and is erosion and deer-resistant.
Consequently it is recommended as a slowly spreading
ground cover
Groundcover or ground cover is any plant that grows low over an area of ground, which protects the topsoil from erosion and drought. In a terrestrial ecosystem, the ground cover forms the layer of vegetation below the shrub layer known as the ...
, for
naturalizing, and in
rain garden
Rain gardens, also called bioretention facilities, are one of a variety of practices designed to increase rain runoff reabsorption by the soil. They can also be used to treat polluted stormwater runoff. Rain gardens are designed landscape sites t ...
s.
It is hardy in
USDA zones
A hardiness zone is a geographic area defined as having a certain average annual minimum temperature, a factor relevant to the survival of many plants. In some systems other statistics are included in the calculations. The original and most widely ...
5 through 9 and does well in containers.
Subtaxa
The following varieties are currently accepted:
*''Carex morrowii'' var. ''laxa'' –
Yakushima
is one of the Ōsumi Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. The island, in area, has a population of 13,178. It is accessible by hydrofoil ferry, car ferry, or by air to Yakushima Airport.
Administratively, the island consists of the town ...
*''Carex morrowii'' var. ''morrowii''
*''Carex morrowii'' var. ''temnolepis'' – Japan
Cultivars
A large number of cultivars are commercially available, including:
*'Everglow'
*'Fisher's Form'
*'Gilt'
*'Gold Band'
*'Ice Dance'
*'Irish Green'
*'Nana Variegata'
*'Pinkie'
*'Silk Tassel'
*'Vanilla Ice'
*'Variegata'
Notes
References
morrowii
Ornamental grass
Endemic flora of Japan
Plants described in 1857
{{Carex-stub