Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance'
Japanese sedge
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Supplied as an established plant in a 3 litre pot
Aspect
Full sun to full shade
Hardiness
Fully hardy in most parts of the UK
Flowers
Spring
Soil
Loam, clay
About this plant
Crisp green-and-white leaves to light up the shade
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Description
Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance' is an evergreen Japanese sedge grown for its arching, grass-like foliage. The narrow, dark green leaves are edged with crisp white margins, forming a dense, spreading tuft that brightens shady corners and softens paths and paving. Unlike most sedges, it spreads slowly and evenly by rhizomes, making it an excellent, low-maintenance groundcover. Small brown flower spikes appear in late spring, but it is the year-round variegated foliage that earns its place.
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Why we like it
Key features
What makes it special
Easy to grow & low maintenance
Evergreen, year-round interest
Specs & details
The particulars
- Botanical name
- Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance'
- Common name
- Japanese sedge
- Supplied as
- 3 litre pot
- Flower colour
- Green
- Eventual height
- 25-30cm
- Eventual spread
- 30-45cm
- Flowering period
- Spring
- Habit
- Arching, spreading evergreen sedge
- Life cycle
- Evergreen perennial
- Hardiness
- Fully hardy in most parts of the UK
- Aspect
- Full sun to full shade
- Soil type
- Loam, clay
- Moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Position
- Front of border, edging, ground cover, waterside, container
- Plant spacing
- Space around 30cm apart for ground cover (approximately 7 plants per m²), or a little closer for quicker cover.
- Growing skill
- Easy
Plant calendar
When to plant, when it performs
Planting & care
Help it thrive
Planting guide
Plant in spring or autumn into moist, fertile, well-drained soil. It thrives in shade and part shade but also takes sun where the soil stays reliably moist. It tolerates damp and even wet ground, making it useful beside ponds or in rain gardens. Water in well and keep the soil moist while establishing. For groundcover, space plants around 30cm apart, or a little closer for quicker cover.
Care tips
Very low maintenance. Keep the soil moist, especially in sunnier spots, as it dislikes drying out. Simply comb or trim out any tatty old leaves in late winter, or cut the whole plant back to the ground if it looks worn, and it will quickly refresh. Lift and divide congested clumps in spring if you want to make more plants.
Winter care
Evergreen in most of the UK, so it needs little winter care. In colder or exposed gardens the foliage can look tatty by late winter; if so, cut it back to the ground in late winter or early spring and fresh new growth will quickly fill in. A winter mulch and shelter from harsh, drying winds help in colder areas.