Fiber Optic Grass (Isolepis cernua Graceful Grasses 'Fiber Optic')
eye-so-LEP-iss SIR-new-ah Graceful Grasses 'Fiber Optic'

Evergreen Perennial (usually grown as an annual near you) in the Cyperaceae Family
Proven Winners' trade-named selection of the whimsical fiber-optic-like sedge, perfect for containers and water features.

Graceful Grasses® Fiber Optic Grass is Proven Winners’ trade name for Isolepis cernua, the same hair-fine, curling green sedge relative described on its species record, marketed for the container trade rather than bred as a distinct cultivar. Clusters of tiny fluffy white flowers appear at the stem tips in summer.

Pros

  • Striking, one-of-a-kind fiber-optic-textured foliage for containers and combos
  • Loves consistently moist soil and tolerates standing water
  • Easy care, no deadheading required

Cons

  • Not frost hardy; grown as an annual in most climates
  • Can self-seed where conditions stay consistently moist
This plant is probably not winter-hardy outdoors where you live.
Highlights Award Winner Adaptable As Houseplant Heat Tolerant Deadheading Not Necessary Water Plant
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 10 - 14 inches tall. 10 - 14 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet
Zones 8a - 10b (Usually hardy to 10° F)
Tags Annual in Chicago, Container, Evergreen, Full Sun, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Low Maintenance, Medium, Partial Sun, Perennial, Tender Perennial, Thrillers, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant
Bloom Period Summer
Flower Color White

Photos of This with...

Fiber Optic Grass, Angelface Blue Summer Snapdragon, Angelface Perfectly Pink Angelonia, Heart to Heart Burning Heart Elephant Ear, Coffee Cups Elephant's Ear, Prince Tut Papyrus, Mezoo Trailing Red Livingstone Daisy, Diamond Snow Spurge, Augusta Lavender Helioptrope, Sweet Caroline Medusa Green Sweet Potato, Graceful Grasses Vertigo, Supertunia Latte Petunia, Supertunia Mini Vista Ultramarine, Supertunia Mini Vista White Petunia, Supertunia Vista Jazzberry, ColorBlaze Wicked Witch Coleus
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 02/05 - 05/17
2024 : 02/08 - 05/18
2023 : 05/04 - 05/07

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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.


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The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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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.

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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!