Evergreen Perennial Clump-Forming, Arching in the Cyperaceae Family
Buy Tufted Sedge
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A robust, evergreen sedge forming dense, arching clumps -- equally at home in a rain garden or at the water's edge.
Carex elata, commonly called Tufted Sedge or European Tussock Sedge, is a clump-forming sedge native to wet meadows, fens, and streambanks across Europe, central Asia, and North Africa — it is not native to North America. Mature plants form dense, arching tussocks of narrow, evergreen leaves roughly 1-3 feet tall and wide.
In spring, inconspicuous greenish flower spikes appear above the foliage, maturing to brown as they set seed. Tufted Sedge thrives in consistently moist to wet soil and tolerates standing water up to about 2 inches deep, making it well suited to rain gardens, pond margins, and other low, soggy spots where many other plants struggle.
Pros
Thrives in consistently wet soil where few other plants succeed
Low-maintenance once established in the right spot
Cons
Does not tolerate drought or dry soil
Flowers are inconspicuous, offering little ornamental color
Can flop or thin out in deep shade
Why Like
In its native European wetlands, fens, and streambanks, Carex elata forms dense tussocks that help stabilize wet soils and provide shelter for small wildlife along the water's edge.
Highlights
Evergreen, arching clumps of narrow foliage; thrives in standing water up to 2 inches deep; deer resistant; useful for rain gardens, pond edges, and other consistently wet low spots.
Plant Data
Mature Size
12 - 30 inches
tall. 12 - 30 inches
wide.
Growth Rate
Medium
Sun Exposure
Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance
Medium - Wet
Zones
4a - 9b
(Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags
Deer Resistant, Evergreen, Full Sun, Good for Rain Garden, Grasses, Medium, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant
We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!
Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants
Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.
Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.
Estimated Recipe Cost
The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.
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About Ordering From The Plant Club
To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.
Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!
No Pricing or Availability Right Now
We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region.
It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.
Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!
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