Water garden moisture loving bog plants

14- Carex Plant :

A greater pond sedge , CAREX is a group of more or less thuggish grasses for shallow water in larger ponds and wet areas making good habitat for birds and
invertebrates. Best planted with deep water adjacent to restrict their spread. Not suitable for small ponds except where noted. Some
rampant spreaders and self seeders here so you have been warned!

has broad blue green leaves; gives good cover for birds and wildlife

Carex, grass like herbs; riparia of the river bank

Height: 1.3m

Planting position: Pond marginal shelf up to 10cm deep or very wet soil, full sun or partial shade.

Form: 9cm pots or 1 litre in an aquatic basket

Species :

1- Carex acuta (Slender-tufted sedge)
height 90cm, flowers summer, sun or part shade.

• Height 90cm
• All sun/part shade
• Plant 0-5cm deep

A rhizomatous perennial of shallow water or wet ground at the edges of rivers, streams, canals, lakes and ponds, in swamps, ditches and unimproved flood meadows and in marshland. It usually grows in calcareous and mesotrophic or eutrophic conditions, in areas subject to frequent flooding. It is shade-tolerant and sometimes grows under riverside trees or in wet woodland. Lowland, but formerly at 335 m at Greystoke (Cumberland).

Status :Native

Trends :

C. acuta, though now better recorded than for the 1962 Atlas, has declined in many areas, principally because of drainage and canalisation of rivers and streams.

2- Carex acutiformis (Lesser pond sedge) :
a native similar to above.

• Height 90cm
• All sun/part shade
• Plant 0-15cm deep

Carex acutiformis, the lesser pond-sedge , is a species of sedge.

It grows up to 150 centimetres (59 in) tall, with leaves up to 160 cm (63 in) long and 5–20 mm (0.2–0.8 in) wide.

It is native to parts of Northern and Western Europe, where it grows in moist spots in a number of habitat types. In its native European range this species is often associated with the Juncus subnodulosus–Cirsium palustre fen-meadow habitat. It is also a dominant plant in the Carex acutiformis swamp plant association.

3- Carex grayi (Sputnik sedge or mace sedge):
interesting seedheads on 90cm stems. Prefers some shade and isn't as vigorous as most sedges so can be used in a small pond.

• Height 90cm
• All sun/part shade
• Plant 0cm deep

4-Carex muskingumensis (Musk sedge)
height to 90cm, slender yellow-green foliage and not as brutish as some.

• Height 120cm
• All sun/part shade
• Plant 0-15cm deep

Sedge plants are widely distributed around the world, but tropical South America and Asia are believed to be the two main locations with the most diverse number of plant varieties. Most nurseries have some varieties of sedge on hand. If you are looking for a particular species, you may need to order seed or starts. Seeded plants will take a couple of seasons to get to useable size but they grow as easily as grass seed. It is best to source native varieties through a grower, as some of these plants are endangered and harvesting from the wild is prohibited. The majority of sedge types grow in either sun or shade. Sedges that are mesic have the broadest tolerance of both dry and moist conditions. Growing sedge plants in mesic soil sets the odds for you on big beautiful plants in almost any region.

Sedge plant care is minimal. They rarely need fertilizer, the plants can be easily moved and they grow rapidly and can even be used as a turf. Sedge plants take to occasional mowing in lawn situations and have the advantage of requiring little further attention, unlike traditional turf grass, which needs plenty of added nitrogen and may get weedy. When fertilizing, feed the plant in early summer with a light nitrogen plant food. Irrigate plants in the sun at least 3 times during the month. For those plants in shadier areas, irrigate just once per month unless your region is in acute drought, in which case water 2 times per month. Suspend watering in fall and winter.

Slowly increasing clumps of architectural, narrow light green leaves & brown pom pom like flowerheads during summer. Best in light shade. Average to damp. Great foliage plant. Height 50cm-60cm. Semi-evergreen

Pot Size: 2 Litre
How many plants will I need?: 3 - 5 Plants Per Square Metre

These ornamental grasses are Semi Evergreen: Treat as for Evergreens except if looking tired these can be cut back hard in Spring. (Evergreens: Comb or rake off any old, tired or dead leaves and flowers in spring.)

Looking for a tropical look with natives, (probably not :-) but if you are, look no further. Carex muskingumensis (Palm Sedge) is a short native that has excellent foliage for textures in home landscaping in many applications. Its variable shade and moisture tolerances make it an excellent tool in the landscaper’s toolbox. Plant in semi-shade areas and rain gardens. Install this plant in large groups to make a dramatic textured effect and a medium sized groundcover.

Sun Exposure Prairie/Savanna/Woodland
Soil Conditions Mesic, Mesic Dry, Dry
Height 2'-3'
Flower Time July
Bloom Color Green

5-Carex panicea (Carnation grass) :
blueish grey foliage reminiscent of carnations, to about 30cm tall, flowers summer. Slower growing and can be used in smaller ponds. Native.

• Height 20cm
• All sun/part shade
• Plant 0-2cm deep

6- Carex pendula (Drooping or pendulous sedge)
native fast growing sedge with prodigious seeding ability. Useful for larger wild areas, avoid in small spaces.

• Height 90cm
• All sun/part shade
• Plant 0-5cm deep

Drawf Blue Sedge. A british native marginal grass with blue-ish coloured evergreen leaves and attractive brown seed heads. Suitable for ponds, lakes, streams and bod-gardens in full sun and partial shade. Height 30 cm. Flowering Time June-August. Water Depth 0-6 cm over the crown.

Common in boggy ground

Fruit c 3-4 mm long

ID: Appearance as above, fruits in each spike rather few, not densely packed, bulging, almost twice as long as glumes. Leaves pale blue both sides. Male spike nearly always 1, females usually 2, sometimes 3.

Other features: Fruit egg-shaped with a short beak.

7- Carex pseudocyperus (Cyperus sedge)
native with attractive hop-like flowers in Summer on 90cm stems, quite vigorous and a prolific seeder.

• Height 90cm
• All sun/part shade
• Plant 0-5cm deep

Carex pendula is commonly known as Pendulous sedge Comes as 3 x 9cm pots This plant is native to the UK and forms dark green leaves that have a weeping mound Grows 40-60cm tall Likes full sun or part shade

Like cypress trees, cypress-like sedge prefers wet areas such as lakeshores, stream shores, marshes, swamps and fens, and can grow in standing water or on floating mats of vegetation.

Flowers: June-July. Plant in sun or part shade. HxS 1m x 60cm

The Cyperus Sedge has strings of spiky green tassels which hang from long stems above lush strap like green leaves in early summer. They give it an exotic appearance, however it is native and needs space to impress. It is also good at hiding unsightly liners, but not really suitable for small ponds or water features. This sedge can be used as a marginal, but is equally good planted in moist or boggy soil or as a waterside plant. Organically grown in peat free compost.

Care & Maintenance.

Prune back hard in spring, not autumn. Can be plant in water depth to 30cm/12in (obviously don’t drown the plant by submerging it while in growth!). Propagation by division or seed, both are equally successful.

8- Carex riparia :

(Greater pond sedge)
invasive native to 120cm high with coarse sharp edged leaves, attractive black seed heads in early summer.

• Height 120cm
• All sun/part shade
• Plant 0-20cm deep

Carex riparia, the greater pond sedge, is a species of sedge found across Europe and Asia. It grows in a variety of wet habitats, and can be a dominant species in some swamps. It is Britain's largest Carex, growing up to 130 cm (4 ft 3 in) tall, with glaucous leaves up to 160 cm (5 ft 3 in) long. It hybridises with a number of other Carex species, including the closely related Carex acutiformis – the lesser pond sedge. A variegated cultivar is grown as an ornamental grass.

Carex riparia has a broad distribution over Europe and Western and Central Asia, with isolated occurrences in North Africa. It can form large stands along slow-flowing rivers, canals, on the edges of lakes, and in wet woodland. It may be the dominant species in swamps, especially if there is standing water in spring, and is also found in tall-herb fens, alongside Carex acutiformis, Carex acuta and other similar species.

Carex riparia was first described by William Curtis in his 1783 work Flora Londinensis. It is easily confused with Carex acutiformis, the lesser pond sedge, but can be told apart by its greater number of male spikes, which grow close together at the top of the culm.

The leaves of C. riparia are up to 160 centimetres (63 in) long by 6–20 millimetres (0.24–0.79 in) wide, glaucous, and narrowing at the tip to a trigonous point. The stems are 60–130 cm (24–51 in) tall, rough, and sharply triangular in section, making C. riparia Britain's largest species of Carex. They bear 1–5 female spikes, each nearly cylindrical and generally overlapping with the next, and 3–6 more densely arranged male spikes.[3] Each female spike is 3–10 cm (1.2–3.9 in) long, often with some male flowers at the tip, while male spikes are 2–6 cm (0.8–2.4 in) long. The fruits of C. riparia are utricles, 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long, with an inflated ovoid shape. They taper to a distinct, bifid beak, which bears three stigmas.

Carex riparia is known to hybridise with a number of other sedge species, including Carex acutiformis (forming Carex × sooi), C. lasiocarpa (forming C. × evoluta), C. rostrata (forming C. × beckmanniana), C. vesicaria (forming C. × csomadensis), C. elata and C. flacca.

- Carex riparia Bowles Golden (Golden sedge) :
actually variegated green and gold. A lovely plant and a water garden essential. Not rampant but will make a fine clump. Plant just above water level.

• Height 60cm
• All sun/part shade
• Plant 0cm deep