Carex ‘Ice Dance’

variegated sedge

  • © Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks

  • © Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks

  • © Marietta O’Byrne

Outstanding Qualities

This evergreen grass-like perennial is a real trooper, requiring little care in return for its bold cream and green variegation. The wide blades have clean, creamy white margins that starkly contrast with the bright rich green centers. Its rhizomatous growth habit makes it a great groundcover. The growth is dense and will prevent weeds from sprouting.

Quick Facts

Plant Type: perennial

Foliage Type: evergreen

Plant Height (10-year): 2 ft. 0 in. (0.61 meters)

Plant Width/Spread (10-year): 3 ft. 0 in. (0.91 meters)

Hardiness: USDA Zones 5 to 9

Sun/Light Exposure: full sun or light to dappled shade

Water Requirements: regular watering in sun, occasional watering in shade

Resistant to: deer

Culture Notes

This evergreen sedge grows best in full sun or light, open, or dappled shade. In sunny locations provide regular summer watering, in shade it can tolerate drying out and only needs occasional watering. It will grow well in well-drained to moist soils and will tolerate sandy and clay locations. Cut back hard in late winter to allow fresh new growth to fill in.

Geek Notes

Selected by horticulturist Barry Yinger during a collection trip to Japan and was introduced in the US by Hines Nursery in 1996. It has previously been marketed as Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance'. Carex morrowii, however, is a clump forming plant with narrower leaves.