Carex remota

Carex remota, also known as Remote Sedge or Remote Sedge with Spaced Spikes, is a type of grass with a sucker root, which allows it to slowly colonise the soil. The plant is decorative even in winter. It forms a clump with a flexible, fountain-like habit, composed of long, very fine leaves of a light and vivid green. The ground cover it forms seems to ripple and is adorned with long, yellow-green inflorescences. Hardy and undemanding, tolerating root competition well, and undeniably sculptural, this perennial plant thrives under trees or on the edge of woodland.

Carex remota is a rhizomatous perennial of the Cyperaceae family. It is native to Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North America. This species is present in shaded and cool places, in humus-rich soils. It withstands freezing temperatures (-15°C (5°F) and colder). Its foliage consists of long, narrow, rough leaves, not exceeding 3mm (1in) wide. The foliage is a slightly shiny light green colour. The leaves are gathered in a dense but flexible, even flattened clump, reaching between 30 and 40cm (12 and 16in) in height. The sucker root spreads slowly. The delicate flowering takes place from April to July. It takes the form of long, flexible floral spikes bearing modest spikelets. This evergreen sedge retains its beautiful foliage in winter. 

Carex remota forms a rather unusual ground cover, which is particularly pleasant at the base of deciduous trees, or even on the edge of a grove or at the foot of a hedge, exposed to morning sun. It will also be comfortable near a water source, as long as its roots are not constantly soaked. It can also be planted in a pot on a contemporary patio. When it thrives, it will form a robust and low-maintenance ground cover. It can be combined with other ground-covering plants that appreciate the same environments, such as small ferns (Polypodium), other small sedges, saxifrages, and Ophiopogon. However, make sure to keep its neighbouring plants at a respectable distance so that they do not smother it.