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Buy Carex flacca

Also Known As

Carex glauca
Blue Sedge

Plant type

perennial, groundcover, aquatic

size

H: 6"-12"
W: 12"-15"

planting zones

4a-9b

4" | $11

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Fewer than 20 at Secret Garden Growers

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Carex flacca plant details

Carex flacca is a broadleaf evergreen perennial groundcover aquatic with blue foliage. In summer chocolate flowers emerge. Features grassy texture. Grows well with sun - shade and standing water - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in average, clay, gritty, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something for erosion control and verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Carex flacca

Plant type: perennial groundcover aquatic
Plant family: cyperaceae
Foliage: evergreen blue
Mature size: 12 IN - 15 IN - wide, 6 IN - 12 IN - tall
Flowers: chocolate blooms in summer
Uses: clumping, lawn alternative, rock garden

GROWING CONDITIONS for Carex flacca

USDA Zones: 4a - 9b
Sun exposure: sun - shade
Watering frequency: standing water - low
Resistant to: deer and rabbit, erosion and verticillium wilt
Soil needs: average, clay, gritty, rich and well-drained

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Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Soft evergreen, blue hummocks are slowly spreading – 6-12” tall – Great ground cover with a ‘relaxed look’ in sun to moderate shade – Moist to dry soils (even dry shade) – Very tolerant! Use as lawn alternative in smallish areas and mow annually. We interplant it with Sedum ‘Frosty Morn'.

By: Secret Garden Growers

This fine textured, bluish-green grass-like plant is a very vigorous sedge. It grows equally as in full shade as it does in full sun. Height is 4"-8" and it spreads quickly, but controllably by rhizome.

By: Sunshine Farm and Gardens

With its sea of striking blue, Carnation-like foliage, this handsome Carex is aptly named. Glaucous, narrow blades create a noninvasive, slowly spreading mass. Purple-black spikes appear to float like a subtle mist just above the solid, jointless flowering stems. Easy to establish and indispensable as a low ground cover, Carex flacca tolerates drought, adapts to an array of growing conditions and effectively interweaves a tapestry of Heathers.

By: Digging Dog Nursery

This low-growing, blue-green sedge is perhaps one the best spreading forms we grow, slowly spreading by rhizomes to form dense patches of finely textured groundcover. Native to Europe, blue sedge grows best in full sun with moderate water; it will tolerate a wide range of soils. Plants from seed are highly variable and can range in size from 6-24" tall, though withholding water will keep plants more compact. Hardy below 0 °F. Europe.

By: Native Sons

Evergreen. Arching, bluish-green foliage.

By: Little Prince of Oregon

For the blue garden or blue accent, a low growing sedge, to 6-12" tall, with narrow leaves, blue-green above and gray-green below creating a sparkly appearance. Native to both sand dunes and estuaries. Forms tidy clumps spreading slowly in the dry garden and more quickly with fertilizer and summer water. Somewhat drought tolerant in part to full shade, requiring at least occasional summer water in full sun. Can also used in a water garden, planted 2" below the surface. Frost hardy to -30 °F, USDA zone 4.