How to identify Glaucous sedge (Carex flacca)

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How to identify Glaucous sedge (Carex flacca)

Glaucous sedge, also known as Gray carex, Carnation-grass

Glaucous sedge is a perennial sedge characterized by its striking cool-season growth habit. It boasts silver-blue evergreen foliage reaching 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 cm) in height. The leaves are narrow, approximately 3/16 inch (5 mm) wide, with a distinct blue-green upper surface and a more uniform gray-blue on the underside, giving the plant a predominantly blue appearance. When flowering in early summer, it produces inconspicuous flowers that blend into its clean aesthetic. Glaucous sedge displays moderate drought resistance once established and spreads through runners.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Grass

Leaf Type: Evergreen

Quickly Identify Glaucous sedge

Silver-blue evergreen foliage

Narrow leaves, blue-green upper surface

Drought-resistant and spreads through runners

Glaucous sedge and Their Similar Plants

Striped weeping sedge vs. Glaucous sedge: What's The Difference?

With multiple cultivars, including at least one that has won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit, striped weeping sedge is popular in temperate gardens. Its leaves are slightly iridescent, creating a shimmering effect as the wind moves its leaves.

Morrow's sedge vs. Glaucous sedge: What's The Difference?

The morrow's sedge is an attractive grass that provides an accent to woodland or rock gardens. The leaves are richer in color when the plant is under the shade of medium-sized shrubs and trees. Its scientific name is Carex morrowii and its common name is a tribute to Dr. James Morrow who collected the plant in Japan in 1853-1854.

Wood sedge vs. Glaucous sedge: What's The Difference?

Wood sedge is a popular ornamental, often used as ground cover in gardens. This evergreen perennial is appreciated because it requires little maintenance. It is thought that the Sámi people of Lapland and neighoring regions once used wood sedge as insulation in their homes.

Berkeley sedge vs. Glaucous sedge: What's The Difference?

Berkeley sedge (Carex tumulicola) is a drought tolerant ornamental grass. It spreads slowly through rhizomes and can grow to about 30 cm tall. This species grows well in shade and is often planted for ground cover.

Pennsylvania sedge vs. Glaucous sedge: What's The Difference?

Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica) is a perennial plant that makes a great ground cover and requires very little maintenance. It blooms in spring with greenish flowers with purple margins. Thrives in partial shade to full shade in dry to moist soil. It provides nesting material for birds and is drought-tolerant once established. It prefers locations with cool summer nights.

Grassland sedge vs. Glaucous sedge: What's The Difference?

Grassland sedge is an evergreen ornamental grass that is liked by gardeners for its drooping foliage. Grassland sedge has a clump-forming nature and flowers during the summer. It is used in cottage gardens and for ground cover. It is naturally found in disturbed lands such as roadsides.

Gray's Sedge vs. Glaucous sedge: What's The Difference?

The genus name of gray's Sedge (Carex grayi) means “cutter” in Latin because the leaves and edges of the stems are so sharp they could cut you. The specific epithet celebrates Asa Gray, who wrote “Gray’s Manual of Botany.” It’s a species that’s indigenous to North America.

Hop sedge vs. Glaucous sedge: What's The Difference?

Carex lupulina is generally known as hop sedge and native to most parts of eastern North America. Its fruits serve as a food source for waterfowl. The plant grows in damp, swampy and grassy environments.

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Key Facts About Glaucous sedge

Attributes of Glaucous sedge

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Grass

Leaf Color

Green

Blue

Flower Color

Green

Purple

Brown

Stem Color

Green

Blue

Leaf type

Evergreen

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Scientific Classification of Glaucous sedge

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Monocotyledons

Order

Grasses, sedges and allies

Family

Sedge

Genus

True sedges

Species

Glaucous sedge (Carex flacca)

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Distribution Map of Glaucous sedge

Glaucous sedge originates from temperate and subarctic regions, thriving in diverse habitats. Its range extends from the northern hemisphere grassland biomes across the Atlantic to encompass parts of the southern hemisphere. Glaucous sedge has been introduced to continents such as Australia and South America, and is also found in North America and New Zealand. Despite its wide distribution, this species is frequently cultivated beyond its native locales.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the Glaucous sedge

A Comprehensive Guide to Glaucous sedge How to Grow and Care for Glaucous sedge