Carex glaucescens aka Southern Waxy Sedge

Carex glaucescens belongs to the sedge family, Cyperaceae. It is a perennial, so it lives for years. Its common names include blue sedge and southern waxy sedge. Its native range runs from the southeastern United States to Texas. It grows by ponds and streams, and in wet meadows. It also grows in bogs, swamps, and ditches. Some sites stay wet for just part of the year. These sites help explain its need for steady soil moisture in gardens.

This large sedge grows upright at a moderate rate. Its leaves range from green to blue and feel like paper. They are narrow, linear, and free of hairs. They grow in an alternate pattern, with bases that sheath the stems. Leaves exceed 0.5 feet [0.15 metres] in length. They measure less than 0.083 feet [0.025 metres] across. The stems have no scent. Its blue tones add a distinct leaf colour to wet plantings. The species name refers to a pale, waxy surface coat.

Green flowers grow on a few hanging spikes in May and June. The female spikes turn brown as they age. Small fruits called achenes form later. By late summer, the fruits have a yellowish hue. Each fruit sits in a sac shaped like a flask. The name for this sac is a utricle. Its waxy blue cast stands out as the fruits ripen. Flowers and fruits add interest next to the blue-green leaves. The hanging spikes stand out as their colour changes.

Grow this sedge in light shade, in soil that stays moist. It prefers acid soil rich in humus, including peaty soil. Loam suits it too, as long as it stays moist. It copes with wet ground, standing water, and floods at times. Full sun suits pond edges where soil never dries out. Though it needs little care, its water needs still matter. Choose a site that meets its need for steady moisture.

Use it in rain gardens, native plantings, or beside permanent ponds. It can form a border, ground cover, or planted accent. Groups suit wet meadows and water gardens too. Wildlife finds cover in its upright growth. Few animals eat the fruits, though. It hosts the larvae of some satyrine butterflies. NC State reports no serious pest or disease problems. To grow more plants, divide them or collect seeds. Take seeds from heads that dry on the plant.