Pendulous sedge

Pendulous sedge: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Dense evergreen clump about 1 m across; flowering stems up to about 1.2 m tall.

Leaves

Broad and strap-shaped, up to 2 cm wide, glossy green with a blue-green underside and rough edges.

Flowers

In May–June: one or two brown male spikes at the top, with several long, drooping green female spikes below.

Stems

Sturdy and three-angled, as in most sedges.

Seed

Small brown nutlets that ripen in summer and germinate readily.

Roots

Short rhizomes and a dense, fibrous root ball; the clump grows a little wider every year.

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

Why grow it?

• Green all year: the clumps give structure to a shade garden, even in winter.
• Grows where many plants give up: in damp shade, under trees and on heavy clay.
• The long, drooping spikes in May and June are striking and graceful.
• A native plant that suits a wildlife garden, the side of a garden stream or the wet edge of a pond.
• The dense clumps give shelter to frogs, toads and other small animals.
• Little work: no annual cutting back, just some tidying.

Pendulous sedge: where does it grow best?

• Partial shade to shade; in sun only if the soil always stays moist.
• Moist to wet soil: loam, clay or humus-rich, peaty soil, from acid to chalky.
• Ideal in a damp woodland corner, beside a garden stream or on the wet bank of a pond, not in the water itself.
• Allow about 1 m per clump: it grows bigger than you expect.

Light

Partial shade and shade

Soil type

Loam, clay or peat

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal or wet

Size

1.2 m tall, 1 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -25 °C)

Goes well with

• Male fern: A native fern for the same damp shade; its fine fronds contrast with the broad sedge leaves.
• Hosta: Large, rounded leaves next to the drooping spikes.
• Meadowsweet: Native, scented white plumes in summer on wet soil.
• Siberian bugloss: Small blue flowers in spring at the foot of the clump.
• Yellow flag: Upright leaves and yellow flowers in May–June at the pond edge.

Pendulous sedge: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–May and September–October.

1. Plant from March to May or in September–October, when the soil is moist and not frozen.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the pot and mix some leaf mould into heavy soil.
3. Set the clump at the same depth as it was in the pot and firm the soil well.
4. Space plants 80–100 cm apart, about one plant per m².
5. Water in thoroughly straight away and keep the soil moist during the first year.
6. Spread a mulch of leaf mould or wood chips around the base to hold in moisture.

Care

Water

Regularly in dry spells during the first year. After that it needs no extra water in a damp spot.

Feeding

Not needed: on humus-rich soil it grows well on its own. At most a little leaf mould in spring.

Tidying

In March, comb the dead leaves out of the clump with gloved fingers or a rake.

Spent flower spikes

Cut the flowering stems off at the base in late June–July, before the seed ripens and drops.

Seedlings

Pull out unwanted seedlings while they are young: older clumps are heavy to dig out.

Tip: Cut off the flowering stems as soon as they have finished, before they turn brown: that prevents a garden full of seedlings and keeps the evergreen clump looking good.

Pendulous sedge: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March and June–July.

When: An evergreen sedge that you do not cut back. In March you clear out the dead leaves, and in late June–July you cut off the spent spikes.

How:

• In March, pull or comb the dead brown leaves out of the clump, wearing gloves.
• Cut damaged leaves away at the base and leave the green foliage in place.
• Cut the flowering stems off at the base after flowering, before the seed ripens.

Caution: The leaf edges are rough and can cut your hands: wear sturdy gloves.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division

In March–April or September: lift the clump, split it with a spade or sharp knife into pieces with roots and leaves, and replant them at once.

Seed

Sow fresh seed in autumn in a pot left outdoors over winter; it germinates in spring. In the garden, seedlings usually appear by themselves.

Pendulous sedge: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −25 °C.

• Fully hardy, to about −25 °C: no protection is needed in Belgium.
• The leaves stay green and give structure to the winter garden; in hard frost the leaf tips may turn brown.
• Leave the old leaves until March: they protect the heart of the clump.
• In a large pot: stand it in a sheltered place and never let the compost dry out completely.

Diseases and pests

• Seedlings everywhere: Young plants in the border and between paving. Cut off the spikes after flowering and weed out seedlings as young as possible.
• Brown leaf tips: A sign of drought or too much sun. Water, and if needed choose a shadier spot.
• Rust: Orange-brown pustules on the leaves. Cut off affected leaves and give the clump more space and air.
• Clump too large: After a few years it takes up a lot of room. Divide it in spring or slice off the edge with a spade.

Through the year

• March: Comb out dead leaves. Plant or divide.
• April: Plant or divide. Add a little leaf mould.
• May: Flowering: drooping spikes. Planting is still possible.
• June: End of flowering. Cut off the spikes before the seed ripens.
• July: Cut off the last spikes. Water in dry spells.
• August: Weed out seedlings. Water during long droughts.
• September: Plant or divide.
• October: Plant. Leave old leaves as winter protection.
• December: Green leaves in the winter garden. Do not cut back.

Did you know?

• You can recognise sedges by their three-angled stem: roll it between your fingers and you feel the edges. True grasses usually have round, hollow stems.
• Pendulous sedge is one of the largest native sedges in Europe.
• Sedges are wind-pollinated: they do not need colourful flowers or nectar to attract insects.