Ice Dance Sedge (Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance')
KARE-ex mor-ROE-ee-eye 'Ice Dance'

Semi-Evergreen Perennial Upright, Clump-Forming in the Cyperaceae Family
Versatile Sedge for sun or shade. Bright white variegation runs along leaf margin. Plant spreads by rhizomes and works well as a groundcover or specimen. Semi-evergreen; drought tolerant once established. Insignificant brown flower

Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance' (Ice Dance Sedge) is a garden-origin cultivar valued for its glossy, dark green leaves crisply edged in white. It forms a dense, slow-spreading clump reaching about 8 to 12 inches tall, with insignificant brown flowers in late spring that add little to its appeal; the foliage is the star.

Ice Dance Sedge is versatile in the landscape, tolerating everything from full shade to full sun, and performs best in fertile soil that stays consistently moist while draining well. It is semi-evergreen to evergreen depending on winter severity, remaining attractive through much of the year, and makes a reliable, low-maintenance groundcover or edging plant once established.

Pros

  • Bright white-edged foliage brightens shade gardens and borders
  • Tolerates everything from full shade to full sun once established
  • Low-maintenance, slow-spreading, and deer resistant
  • Semi-evergreen to evergreen, offering winter interest in milder zones

Cons

  • Needs consistently moist, well-drained soil; struggles in soggy or waterlogged sites
  • Slow to fill in, so patience is needed for a full groundcover effect
  • Variegated foliage can scorch in intense afternoon sun in hot climates
Highlights Crisp white-edged, glossy green foliage that brightens shade plantings; tolerates both full sun and full shade; semi-evergreen to evergreen winter presence; low-maintenance and deer resistant.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 8 - 12 inches tall. 12 - 18 inches wide.
Growth Rate Slow
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium: Tolerates average garden soil moisture and brief dry spells once established, but performs best with consistent moisture and good drainage; avoid soggy or waterlogged sites.
Zones 5a - 9b (Usually hardy to -20° F)
Tags Deer Resistant, Dry, Full Shade, Full Sun, Grasses, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Medium, Most Popular, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Variegated Foliage Deer Resistant Perennials, Full Shade Perennials, Ornamental Grass, Partial Sun Perennials, Spring Blooming Perennials
Bloom Period May - June
Flower Color Brown
 

Most Popular Plants
 

Absolutely Easy Garden Recipes that include Ice Dance Sedge
 

More Info from Experts

Photos of This with...

Vision in Red Astilbe, Evergold Sedge, Eastern Star Sedge, Eastern Redbud, Max Frei Bloody Cranesbill, Ivory Prince Christmas Rose, Golden Tiara Hosta, Red Knockout Shrub Rose,
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 04/13 - 09/30

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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.


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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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!