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Japanese sedge—also known as Morrow sedge or Evergold sedge—is a semi-deciduous, rhizomatous evergreen native to central and southern Japan. It forms a dense clump of slender foliage that shimmers in the wind, with flat, dark green leaves that are 12 inches long and 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide.
Best planted in spring, Japanese sedge’s growth habit is dense, tufted, and mounding. The plant grows at a moderate pace, reaching its final height and spreading within about two years. Inconspicuous brown flower spikes appear on the plant in mid to late spring.
Japanese sedge is a very versatile plant—it blends attractively with flowering bulbs and perennials, and is a great way to add structure to your landscape. It can be used in garden beds or as an edging plant, and is great for growing around ponds or water gardens because it loves moist soil. Not only does it grow well in containers, but it also looks great in rock and cottage gardens and thrives in shady spots, like under trees and shrubs.
Mass plantings of Japanese sedge will attract a ton of pollinators to your garden, including butterflies and bees. Similar to tufted and foothill sedges, Japanese sedge is deer resistant and easy to care for, providing year-round planting interest and can even thrive through the winter as long as it doesn’t get too cold. Additionally, problems with pests or diseases are fairly rare.
Japanese sedge plants are unique because they thrive in shady areas, like under a canopy of trees or in spots shaded by your home or other buildings. They also do well with a little dappled sunlight, although it should be minimal (no more than four to five hours of partial sunlight per day). Too much sun exposure will cause the plant’s foliage to bleach and its green color to fade significantly.
Plant your Japanese sedge in any soil mix that is moderately moist, fertile, and well-drained. The plant adapts well to a variety of different soil types (such as chalk, clay, loam, or sand) and pH levels, but does not like dry soil.
Japanese sedge plants should be watered regularly, especially as they become established in your landscape. A good rule of thumb is to drench the plant when the top layer of soil has dried out, and you should never let the soil dry out completely if possible. Once the plant is established in your landscape, it is moderately drought tolerant. When watering Japanese sedge plants, aim your hose or watering can at the base of the plant rather than the dense foliage – this will help reduce the risk of fungal diseases.
Japanese sedge plants like cool weather and grow most vigorously when temperatures are below 75°F (24°C). However, they tolerate a wide range of temperatures and have no special humidity requirements. To protect the plant during particularly cold winters, you can cover it with a thick layer of organic mulch around the root zone.
You don’t need to worry about fertilizing your Japanese sedge plants – they will establish themselves quite easily and grow well without additional nutrients.
More than 1500 Carex species grow in moist to wet areas worldwide, making individual species difficult to identify. There are a variety of common grass species in the genus Carex that are sometimes confused with Japanese sedge, including foothill sedge and tufted sedge. However, there are also a number of well-known cultivars of Japanese sedge, many of which differ only slightly in color or appearance, but not in care. These include:
Carex morrowii ‘Variegata’: This cultivar looks largely the same as Japanese sedge, but has leaves with bright white edges on both sides.
Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’: This cultivar features creamy yellow leaves with bright green edges. It grows in a low, grass-like mound clump similar to Japanese sedge.
Carex morrowii ‘Silk Tassel’: Perhaps the most unique of the group, this cultivar has leaves that are thin, fluffy, and green-silver. The fine texture of the leaves gives the plant a fountain or mop-like effect.
It is not necessary to prune your Japanese Sedge throughout the growing season. Nor is it necessary to shape the plant as long as you like its free form and it does not require any specialhbarb plants. However, if you don’t live in an area where plants stay healthy year-round, you can (and should) prune Japanese sedge before winter so it will have fresh foliage next spring.
To properly prepare it, cut the leaves back to ground level, being careful not to cut too hard and rip out the plant’s roots. Remove all debris from the area around the plant and mulch the cut foliage if desired.
Division is the recommended method of propagation for Japanese sedge. Plan to divide your plant every three to four years, around the time when the center of your mature plants starts producing fewer new leaves.
In spring, when new growth begins, lift the entire plant out of the soil with a shovel. If it’s too large, move it in one piece, do so in sections.
Gently break the clump into sections. Shaking off excess soil will help divide the clump into smaller sections.
Plant the sections in new locations at the same depth as the original plant. Water well and keep the soil evenly moist until you see new growth.
Germination of Japanese sedge can be erratic, and seeds are not widely available, as it is mostly sold as a plant. If you plan to collect seeds from your own plant, it could be a cultivar, meaning that the seeds from this plant will not produce a new plant that is true to the parent plant. If you still want to try, here’s how to grow Japanese sedge from seed:
Sow the seeds in seed trays filled with seed mix or light potting soil and cover with only a thin layer of soil.
Japanese sedge prefers cooler temperatures for germination. Keep the seed trays at a temperature of around 15°C in a spot with dappled light. Water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist.
After the seedlings have developed a root system that fills the cell, you can safely plant them outdoors, which is best done in spring or fall.
Due to its short height, Japanese sedge is an ideal container plant. You can plant them alone in a pot or combine them with other plants that have similar water and sun needs.
The container should be at least 6 inches or more larger than your plant’s root ball to give it plenty of room to grow for two to three years without needing to be repotted. Good drainage holes are essential. Fill the container with a high-quality potting soil. When growing a sedge in a container, also consider its future growth so you don’t overcrowd the container.
Once the root system has filled the container, repot it into a container one size larger with fresh potting soil.
If you live in an area with mild winters, you don’t need to take special precautions for your sedges as the seasons change. You can place a thick layer of organic mulch around the base of the plants before temperatures drop and suspend your watering schedule in late fall and throughout the winter.
However, if your winters bring cool temperatures and frost is a normal occurrence, it’s probably best to cut your sedges down to the ground, put mulch around the base of the plants, and wait for them to grow back in the spring.
Sedges in containers should be protected in areas with prolonged subzero temperatures, as this can damage the roots. Protect the container with burlap and bubble wrap, or place the container in an insulated silo.
Japanese sedges are resistant to serious pests and diseases and are unpalatable to deer and other herbivores.