Description
Carex muskingumensis 'Oehme', known as variegated palm sedge, has upright stems with leaves held out horizontally in whorls, like small palm trees. The green leaves develop narrow yellow margins as the season goes on. In early and midsummer it carries small golden-brown flower spikes.
Palm sedge at a glance
| Botanical name |
Carex muskingumensis 'Oehme' |
| Common name |
Palm sedge |
| Plant type |
Loosely tufted sedge; deciduous, semi-evergreen in mild areas |
| Height and spread |
About 50–75 cm tall, 50–100 cm wide |
| Flowers |
Golden-brown spikes, early to midsummer; not showy |
| Position |
Full sun or part shade |
| Soil |
Moist to wet, fertile soil |
| Pond depth |
None – moist or wet soil at the pond edge |
| Hardiness |
RHS H7 – very hardy (below -20°C) |
| Native to |
Garden form of a North American sedge (not UK native) |
Is palm sedge a pond plant?
It is best treated as a bog and moist-margin plant. In the wild it grows on wet floodplains and can cope with shallow standing water, but no UK source gives a water depth. Plant it in moist or wet soil at the pond edge or in a bog garden.
Where to plant it
- Bog gardens and wet borders
- The damp edge of a pond
- Full sun or part shade
How to plant and care for it
Plant in spring in moist to wet, fertile soil. It spreads gently. We found no UK pest or disease problems recorded.
Which size should I buy?
Bare-root plants (7 cm, 9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre) arrive without a pot or compost and are the most economical way to plant a group. Potted plants (9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre) arrive growing in our peat-free compost and give a faster display.
