Carex acutiformis
lesser pond sedge
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Depth of water: 0-8cm (0-3in)
- Soil: fertile, moist or wet soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: July to September
- Hardiness: fully hardy
A native sedge, which is found colonising marshland, riverbanks and coastal swamps in many parts of Northern Europe. It spreads by underground rhizomes, sending up tufts of slender foliage, eventually forming good-sized clumps. In summer deep purple-brown male spikelets appear on slender stems above the more rounded females. As they mature they each have a distinctive look, which produces and intriguing effect. Perfect for the shallow margins of a pond or a bog garden. - Garden care: Cut brittle, dead foliage right down to the ground in late winter, before new growth appears.
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