I purchased Carex muskingumensis ‘oehme’ (Variegated Palm Sedge) from the IMA greenhouse in mid September of 2007.  The plant was so pretty in its container I could not pass it by.  This native plant has a form that reminds me of the non-native Hakonechloa (Japanese Forest Grass).

    The plant is listed as growing 12-15 inches tall.  It is a flowing variegated grassy ground-cover for shade. 

    From Rick Darke’s book The Encyclopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes I learned that palm sedge’s location in nature is low woods and wet meadows in northern areas of the central United States.  Despite occurring naturally in moist habitats palm sedge is able to tolerate drought.  Palm sedge is said to grow in either light shade or sun. 

    It was noted that Palm sedge can spread strongly by rhizomes.  Because of this comment I have decided to trial palm sedge in an area where spreading will not be a problem.  I want to grow the plant in the ground and in a container before deciding if this is a plant that I will introduce into my rain garden. 

    I will add updates about palm sedge as I gain experience with this sedge.  Look for photos of palm sedge as the garden season starts.

Carex muskingumensis ‘oehme’

Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’

As you can see from the photos above, which were taken on March 17th 2008, the Carex muskingumensis does not have much of a winter presence.  It is not an evergreen sedge.  The Hakonechloa which is the non-native grass that reminds me of C. muskingumensis does not have a winter presence either.   Below are photos taken on July 11th which show the growth of both plants during the summer season.

Carex muskingumensis ‘oehme’

Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’