Carex muskingumensis Variegata

Carex muskingumensis 'Variegata' is a variety that stands out from other American sedges with its cream-edged medium green foliage. It is a palmate sedge with leaves typically arranged radially and horizontally along long and flexible stems, giving them the appearance of small palm trees. It is perfectly hardy and easy to grow; simply plant it in moist to wet soil, even in saturated conditions. Once established, it can even tolerate temporary drought. Use it as ground cover with other understory species in a natural garden, or plant it around a pond with moisture-loving perennials.

Carex muskingumensis is a gramineous perennial belonging to the Cyperaceae family. It is native to the woodlands and wet plains of the American Midwest. It thrives in rich, moist to wet soil, even in saturated conditions, with no specific preference for exposure. In hot and dry summers, it should at least have access to soil that remains somewhat moist. Resistant to temperatures below -20°C (-4°F), this semi-evergreen sedge tends to thin out during the harshest winters. However, it quickly regenerates from spring onwards to adorn the garden with its beautiful foliage for the rest of the year.

The 'Variegata' variety reaches about 60cm (24in) in height and 50cm (20in) in width. It forms vigorous clumps, which are initially quite short, with foliage close to the ground. Vigorous and upright culms appear, bearing abundant cream-edged medium green foliage, which is flexible and delicate, arranged almost horizontally and radially on the stems. The stems themselves terminate in small spikes of golden-brown flowers in July-August.

This sedge forms a bushy, verdant, and sculptural clump that works wonders in woodland clearings and borders in natural-style gardens. Consider pairing it with Darmera peltata, ostrich ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris), and Japanese anemones. Its clump forms a dense and attractive ground cover, illuminated by dappled sunlight filtering through the tree canopy. We have planted it on the bank of our stream alongside astrantias, astilbes, and hostas.