Nordic Blade Sedge (Carex elata 'Gurre Soe')
KARE-ex ee-LAY-tah 'Gurre Soe'

Evergreen Perennial Upright, Clump-Forming in the Cyperaceae Family
 
Buy Nordic Blade Sedge
Size Notes Price Availability
#1 gallon Field $14.92 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4

Striking black flower heads in spring mature to fuzzy brown spikes that persist through the season. Upright, clump forming habit. Discovered in Denmark by Poul Petersen of Overdam Nursery.

'Gurre Soe' (marketed as Nordic Blade Sedge) is a selection of Tufted Sedge (Carex elata), a European wetland sedge, discovered in Denmark by Poul Petersen of Overdam Nursery. It forms an upright, clump-forming mound of green, grass-like foliage reaching 2-3 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. Its standout feature is a striking display of black flower spikes in spring that mature to fuzzy brown and persist through summer and fall, adding long-lasting texture well beyond most sedges' brief, inconspicuous bloom. As a true wetland species, it thrives in consistently moist to wet soil, including up to 2 inches of standing water, and does not tolerate drought.

Pros

  • Striking black flower spikes in spring mature to fuzzy brown and persist through summer and fall - unusually showy for a sedge
  • Attracts butterflies and other wildlife
  • Thrives in consistently wet soil and even shallow standing water where many other plants struggle
  • Upright, clump-forming habit with no serious pest or disease problems

Cons

  • A true wetland species - does not tolerate drought and needs consistently moist to wet soil
  • Foliage itself is plain green, with most of the ornamental interest coming from the flower spikes rather than variegation
  • Can outgrow a small water-garden margin at 2-3ft tall and 3-4ft wide
Highlights

A Danish-discovered selection of Tufted Sedge prized for its unusually showy black flower spikes, which mature to fuzzy brown and persist through summer and fall - far more ornamental than the typical inconspicuous sedge bloom.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 36 inches tall. 3 - 4 feet wide.
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet: A genuine wetland species - needs consistently moist to wet soil and tolerates up to 2in of standing water. Does not tolerate drought despite some retail marketing claims to the contrary (see audit note).
Zones 5a - 9b (Usually hardy to -20° F)
Tags Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Wildlife, Evergreen, Full Shade, Full Sun, Grasses, Medium, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Pond, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant
Bloom Period April to May
Flower Color Black, maturing to Brown
Foliage Color Green
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 09/20
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05

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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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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!