Palm sedge

Palm sedge: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Clump 60–90 cm tall and 50–60 cm wide, with upright stems, slowly widening through short rhizomes.

Leaves

Narrow ribbon-like, 5–10 mm wide, fresh green; arranged in fans like little palms around the stem.

Flower

Inconspicuous golden-brown spikes at the tops in June–July.

Autumn colour

Golden yellow in autumn, then brown in winter.

Roots

Short rhizomes that make the clump slowly widen.

Flowering: June–July · Plants: March–May and September–October · Pruning: March

Why grow it?

• Striking, palm-like foliage that gives a shady garden an exotic touch.
• Lovely golden-yellow autumn colour before the leaves turn brown.
• Grows well in moist to wet soil, where many plants struggle.
• Fully hardy and low maintenance.
• A fine leaf structure next to hostas, ferns and other shade plants.

Palm sedge: where does it grow best?

• Half shade to shade; in sun only if the soil always stays moist.
• Moist to wet, fertile soil: loam, clay or peat, acid to chalky.
• Tolerates wet feet for a while, for example beside a pond or stream.
• Allow 40–50 cm between plants; it spreads slowly.

Light

Partial shade and shade

Soil type

Loam, clay or peat

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal or wet

Size

0.6 m tall, 0.5 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -30 °C)

Goes well with

• Hosta: Large leaves in the same moist shade.
• Ferns: A fresh, green underplanting for a shady border.
• Astilbe: Pink and red plumes next to the palm-like foliage.
• Rodgersia: Large, decorative leaves in moist half shade.

Palm sedge: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–May and September–October.

1. Plant in March–May or in September–October, when the soil is not frozen.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and mix in a few spades of compost.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in its pot and firm the soil well.
4. Plant 40–50 cm apart, in groups of 3–5 for a natural effect.
5. Water thoroughly straight away and keep the soil moist during the first season.
6. Spread a layer of leaf mould around the clump to hold the moisture.

Care

Water

Keep the soil moist; in dry summers water generously and regularly, especially in a pot or in the sun.

Feeding

A spade of compost in spring; no more is needed.

Mulching

A layer of leaf mould in spring keeps the soil cool and moist.

Dividing

After 3–4 years, when the heart gets bare, divide in spring to rejuvenate.

Tidying

In spring remove the brown winter foliage before the new shoots appear.

Tip: Put it on a damp spot in half shade. It tolerates wet feet for a while, but brown leaf edges usually mean the soil is too dry.

Palm sedge: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March.

When: From late February to March, before the new shoots start to grow.

How:

• Cut the brown foliage back to about 5–10 cm above the ground.
• Use sharp secateurs or shears and wear gloves.
• Pull dead leaves from between the new shoots with your fingers.
• When dividing, remove the bare parts in the heart of the clump.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division

In March–April lift the clump and divide it with a sharp spade into pieces with roots and shoots; replant straight away and water.

Seed

In spring on moist seed compost; germination is slow and uneven.

Palm sedge: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −30 °C.

• Fully hardy, to about −30 °C: no protection needed.
• The leaves turn golden yellow in autumn, then brown, and stay on in winter until you cut them back in March.
• In a pot: keep the compost moist, place the pot against a wall and protect it with hessian in severe frost.

Diseases and pests

• Brown leaf edges: The soil is too dry or the spot too sunny. Water generously, mulch and preferably choose a shadier spot.
• Floppy, flattened stems: Too much shade or soil that is too rich. Move the plant to a lighter spot and feed less.
• Spreading: In moist soil the clump spreads and can crowd smaller neighbours. Cut off the edge or divide the clump.
• Slugs: Sometimes nibble young shoots in spring. Collect them or lay a barrier of sharp sand.

Through the year

• March: Cut back old foliage. Divide and plant.
• April: Plant. Add compost and mulch.
• May: Plant. Water in dry spells.
• June: Inconspicuous flowering.
• July: Water in dry spells.
• August: Water in dry spells.
• September: Plant or divide.
• October: Plant. Yellow autumn colour.
• December: Rest. Leave the brown foliage.

Did you know?

• The species name refers to the Muskingum, a river in the American state of Ohio.
• It is called palm sedge or umbrella sedge in English, after the leaves arranged like a little palm or umbrella.
• The genus Carex has more than 2,000 species and is one of the largest plant genera in the world.