Remote sedge

Remote sedge: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Loose, arching clump 40–60 cm tall and 30–40 cm wide.

Leaves

Narrow, soft, light green and arching; usually evergreen.

Flowers

Slender spikes spaced apart along the stem, with long bracts; in June–July.

Seed

Small nutlets in the spikes, ripe in summer; they self-seed easily.

Roots

Fibrous and dense; the clump grows slowly and does not send out long runners.

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

Why grow it?

• Clumps of fine, light green foliage that give a soft, natural feel in the shade.
• A native species that fits well in a natural or wild garden.
• Grows in damp to wet places where many other plants struggle.
• Evergreen and low-maintenance: no pruning, no feeding.
• Self-seeds and fills gaps under trees and shrubs.

Remote sedge: where does it grow best?

• Part shade, also shade; in full sun the foliage dries out.
• Damp to wet soil: loam, clay or peaty soil, acid to chalky.
• At the edge of a pond or stream, at a woodland edge or under trees.
• Allow 30–40 cm between plants.

Light

Partial shade and shade

Soil type

Loam, clay or peat

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal or wet

Size

0.5 m tall, 0.4 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -25 °C)

Goes well with

• Ferns: The same damp shade and a nice contrast in leaf shape.
• Marsh marigold: Yellow flowers in spring at the damp edge.
• Hosta: Large leaves beside the fine sedge foliage.
• Meadowsweet: Fluffy cream-white plumes on damp soil.

Remote sedge: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–May and September–October.

1. Plant in March–May or September–October, when the soil is not frozen.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and mix in some compost or leaf mould.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in its pot and firm the soil well.
4. Water in generously straight away, even if it is raining.
5. Spread leaf mould or wood chips around the clump and keep the soil moist.

Care

Water

Keep the soil moist at all times. In dry weather water generously, especially in the first year.

Feeding

A layer of compost in spring is enough; on rich, damp soil it is usually unnecessary.

Mulching

Leaf mould or wood chips in autumn keep the soil moist and suppress weeds.

Tidying

In March remove brown and damaged leaves.

Seedlings

Seedlings you do not want are easy to pull out when they are small.

Tip: Plant it in a damp spot in part shade and let it self-seed: the seedlings fill bare patches under shrubs by themselves.

Remote sedge: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March.

When: In March, before the new leaves come through. Pruning is not really necessary.

How:

• Pull or cut off brown and damaged foliage at the base.
• If the clump looks very tatty, cut it back to 5–10 cm; the foliage regrows quickly.
• Only cut off spent spikes if you do not want self-sown seedlings.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division

In March–April or September–October, cut a clump into pieces with a sharp spade, each with roots and leaves. Replant at once and water.

Seed

The seed ripens in summer. Sow it fresh in pots of damp soil and keep them cool, or let the plant self-seed.

Remote sedge: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −25 °C.

• Hardy down to about −25 °C: no protection is needed, even in hard winters.
• The foliage usually stays green; in severe winters it can turn brown. Cut it off in March.
• In a pot: stand it against a wall and wrap the pot in hessian so the roots do not freeze.

Diseases and pests

• Drying out: Brown tips and shrivelling foliage in dry weather. Water generously and mulch the soil.
• Seedlings everywhere: It self-seeds freely. Pull out unwanted seedlings or cut off the spikes before the seed ripens.
• Yellowing in the sun: In full sun the foliage fades. Move it to part shade.
• Tatty winter foliage: Normal after a cold winter. Cut it off in March; new leaves will grow.

Through the year

• March: Remove brown leaves. Plant or divide.
• April: Plant. Apply compost.
• May: Plant. Water in dry spells.
• June: Flowering starts.
• July: Flowering. Water in dry spells.
• August: Seed ripens. Water in dry spells.
• September: Plant or divide. Move seedlings.
• October: Plant. Mulch with leaf mould.

Did you know?

• The name remota means ‘far apart’ and refers to the spikes that stand apart along the stem.
• Sedges are wind-pollinated, which is why their flowers have no petals.
• In the wild it grows in damp woods and along woodland streams in Flanders.