Broadleaf Sedge (Carex platyphylla)
[KARE-eks plat-ih-FIL-lah]

Semi-Evergreen Clump-Forming, Mounded in the Cyperaceae Family
An under-used native groundcover sedge with broad, powdery blue-green leaves, thriving in dry shade under trees.

Carex platyphylla (Broadleaf Sedge) is a low, clump-forming native sedge grown for its broad, powdery blue-green leaves. It forms a neat mound of foliage 8-12 inches tall and 12-18 inches wide, with inconspicuous green flower spikes in early summer. An under-utilized groundcover, it performs especially well in dry shade beneath deciduous trees, tolerating a range of soil moisture from dry to medium once established.

Pros

  • Distinctive powdery blue-green foliage
  • Thrives in dry shade under trees, a tough site for most perennials
  • Low, neat mounding habit
  • Deer resistant

Cons

  • Spreads slowly; not a fast groundcover
  • Flowers are inconspicuous, not a visual feature
Why Like

A low-maintenance native groundcover for dry shade under deciduous trees - a site many other perennials struggle with. Its broad blue-green leaves add color and texture where options are limited, and it slowly forms a self-sustaining, deer-resistant mound requiring little care once established.

 

Plant Data

Mature Size 8 - 12 inches tall. 12 - 18 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Partial Shade
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Dry, Full Shade, Medium, Partial Shade
Bloom Period Inconspicuous; early summer
Flower Color Green
 

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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!