Carex comans 'FROSTED CURLS' New Zealand hair sedge
Carex
Sedge (carex) is an extensive genus of evergreen and deciduous grasses, for which there is a uniting feature, so important that it gave them their scientific name – leaf margins are more or less sharp like precisely cut sheets of office paper. There are more than 1,500 (some believe up to 2,000) species of sedges and they appear in practically all climate types from the hot tropics to arctic regions, where they form one of the most important groups of flora that is able to survive in such inclement conditions. They differ in size, colour, leaf width, flowering, and habit. Some are tufted, others are rhizomatous and creeping so they can form an impenetrable ground cover. Most sedges, including those that are native to Central Europe, are naturally found in moist to wet habitats, which is quite a paradox, since many of them cope well with long-term drought if they are not in a sunny location.
Frosted Curls is a tufted, evergreen New Zealand hair sedge variety with narrow leaves that curls at tips. The leaves are light green in spring and summer, after flowering in late summer they turn light sandy yellow, and finally in winter they are soft bronze.
Last update 24-02-2013
New Zealand sedge is a low-maintenance plant requiring no extra care once established. Though, for best results you can comb away old and weak leaves in late winter. Alternatively, you can cut it back every 4-5 years for rejuvenation. Sedges are often used for landscapes where neglect is expected. This one prefers full sun or part shade and evenly moist (not wet) ground. It is drought-tolerant once established. Hardy to min. -24 °C (USDA zone 6), possibly a bit more.
