Perennial of the Month-- September 2009

(CARE-ex  care-oo-FIL-ee-ah)  (pronunciation at link, turn up volume if too low)

Common name: The  Beatles Spring/Vernal Sedge, mop-head sedge

Family: Cyperaceae, Sedge

Height x width: 6in x 30in

Growth rate, habit: slow, low arching mass 

Foliage: mass of thin leaves, dark green edged in gold

Flowers: not significant

Hardiness: USDA zones 5-9, USDA heat zones 9-1

Soil: moist, will tolerate and grow in shallow water

Light: shade to part shade

Pests and problems: none significant

Landscape habit, uses: shade gardens, wetland edges, containers, massed, modern and oriental gardens, rock gardens, year-round interest (evergreen) in warm climates, slopes and along rock walls; combines well with moor grass, corabells, astible, ferns and hostas or as understory for Japanese maples

Other interest: looks like a grass but actually a sedge; originated as a sport of 'The Beatles', and similar to it only the leaf margins on this are green and gold variegated; usually listed under species caryophyllea, but likely a hybrid of digitata and ornithopoda

Other culture: none, cut leaves to ground in spring before new growth emerges if brown and winter-injured

Propagation: division every few years if needed

Sources:  specialty mail order, online, and local perennial nurseries