1. San Diego Sedge – Carex spissa
(CARE (KAR) -ex SPISS-uh)
Family: Juncaceae (Rush Family)
Native to: CA central and south coast; stream banks in coastal sage scrub and chaparral.
clumping perennial rush
mature height: 2-4 ft. mature width: 3-6 ft.
Attractive blue foliage, that resembles a small cattail; with water, grows in dense, showy clumps.
Relatively slow growth rate. This is a nice large sedge – very grass-like in appearance.
Growth characteristics:
Blooms/fruits:
Blooms late spring-early fall; flowing heads held above foliage; attractive
Uses in the garden: Excellent ornamental grass. Showy near ponds or lawns where it receives
plenty of moisture. Dramatic specimen plant for a conventional garden or wet native garden. Plant
in cobbles for a creek effect with other riparian or swale species. Leaf edges are sharp.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native ornamental pool-side bunching grasses (Pampas Grass).
Attracts:
Excellent bird habitat: provides cover and seeds for food. Larval food for Umber Skipper
butterfly.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun to full shade
Any moisture retentive soil; best with pH 5.0-7.5 (slightly acid)
Best with continually mist soil, summer water. Drought tolerant when mature, but
will brown. Tolerates seasonal flooding
low
Tolerates alkali soils, foot traffic
Will form large, dense clumps connected by rhizomes. Shear after flowering to
remove old leaves and produce bluest color. Can get by with shearing every few years.
Management:
Propagation: from seed: not difficult
by divisions:
after flowering in fall/winter
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 3, 8, 9-11, 13, 16, 20, 21, 24, 25
1/31/11
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