With its decorative gooseberries, the morning star sedge not only makes a very pretty picture. It is also very robust, easy to care for and adaptable.
There are around 2,000 different species of sedge, including the morning star sedge. The plant is known by its Latin name as Carex grayi - and has been since 1848, when John Carey first described the sedge species in detail. It is a plant from the sourgrass family. Thus, the morning star sedge is also a herbaceous, particularly perennial plant. If moderate climatic conditions prevail, sedges can even be found almost everywhere in the world.
More information on the morning star sedge
The morning star sedge looks great not only in the garden, but also in a bouquet of flowers or dried flowers. The green, conspicuously spherical inflorescence of this plant is a real eye-catcher.
| Morning star sedge (Carex grayi) | |
|---|---|
| Flower color: | brown green |
| Flowering: | July - August |
| Growth: | 20 - 70 cm |
| Growth: | 25 - 30 cm | Location: | Sun to partial shade |
| Floor: | fresh to moist, well-drained, acidic/lime-free to neutral |
The flowering period extends from the merry month of July into August and the plant is characterized by the following features both externally and in its characteristic constitution:
- Fruit clusters resemble a morning star
- yellow flower color
- triangular, rather narrow foliage
- bushy and clump-forming growth
- Growth heights of up to 70 centimeters
- Growth widths of up to 40 centimetres
- evergreen plant
- very good winter hardiness
- very long-lived plant
- Compared to other sedge species, it grows more slowly
- mainly grows in summer as well as in spring
- natural distribution: Northeastern USA and eastern Canada
What a hardy and long-lived plant the morning star sedge isis also shown by the fact that it can withstand temperatures down to minus 18 degrees Celsius. Provided that it is faced with frost-free periods of more than three months, the morning star sedge can easily survive in the wild. There it can be found, for example, near natural bodies of water, swamps and streams.
Where do morning star sedges grow best?
The morning star sedge is not only very good as a cut perennial, but also for planting along stream banks and ponds. Whether in the shade or in a Japanese garden, the morning star sedge will also find its place there. The same applies to the following locations:
- in beds among numerous other bedding plants
- in a natural garden
- in the wooded area
When is the best time to plant?
Spring is considered the ideal time to plant the morning star sedge. No more than seven to nine plants of the morning star sedge should be planted per square meter. This corresponds to a planting distance of around 35 centimetres, so that the growth width of the morning star sedge can be optimally taken into account. The plant can be planted individually or in small groups. This is entirely at your discretion and depends primarily on your aesthetic ideas for your garden.
What is the perfect location for the morning star sedge?
The morning star sedge can develop its bizarre infructescence best in a sunny to partially shaded location. When it comes to soil, she prefers fresh to moist soil, which should be rich in nutrients. In most cases, the morning star sedge is very well served with regular soil. Since this is a type of grass, be sure to do the following soil preparation:
- a soil that is as loose as possible
- weeds should be removed from the ground
- ensure adequate drainage
- a substrate pH of 5.7 to 7.2 is ideal
- ideal topsoil thickness: around 20 centimeters
The morning star sedge can tolerate low-oxygen and calcareous soils very well. On the other hand, the plant has only a low tolerance for temporarily dry soils. The same applies to wet floors. In most cases, waterlogging leads to the death of the morning star sedge. It is therefore important to avoid these at all costs, while the soil should be free of weeds in the interests of lush growth.
Because the plant has aIf you prefer humus-rich, rather fresh soil, you are welcome to add leaf compost that has already rotted well to the planting hole. In this way, you ensure that the morning star sedge is optimally supplied with nutrients. The plant does not grow at all on saline soils. Because the herb cannot even begin to tolerate such site conditions.
Planting instructions for the morning star sedge
❶ In order for the morning star sedge to thrive as magnificently as possible, you should prepare the planting hole as already described to ensure the necessary soil conditions.
❷ The young plants, which are available in specialist shops, must be watered sufficiently before planting outdoors. To do this, place the root ball in a bucket. Then fill the bucket up to the brim with well-tempered water. It usually takes no more than ten to twenty minutes for the root ball of the morning star sedge to soak up enough water.
❸ You should dig out the planting hole for the morning star sedge to about twice the size of the root ball. Then place the plant in the hole, setting up an extra layer of drainage beforehand may be essential depending on local soil conditions. When planting the morning star sedge, you should also make sure that you do not plant the plant deeper into the ground than it was in the pot before.
❹ Then fill the planting hole with garden soil and press it down lightly. Now the morning star sedge young plant only has to be watered well so that the plant can grow as desired.
How to properly care for the morning star sedge
Casting:
Especially in the year of planting, it is important that you water the morning star sedge sufficiently. This should be done in the morning or evening hours so as not to damage the plant. Especially in dry periods or when a particularly hot summer prevails, you must ensure that you give enough water while avoiding waterlogging.
Fertilize:
Especially in the growth phase, which takes place in spring, it makes a lot of sense to fertilize the morning star sedge. If leaves accumulate in the bed under the morning star sedge, you can leave them lying around. Because this foliage provides valuable humus, which the grass can use as an excellent source of nutrients. However, you should not fertilize this type of sedge too much. In the worst case, this can even make the plant less robust and more susceptible to disease.
Pruning:
The evergreen morning star sedgedoes not require pruning in spring. Rather, it is absolutely sufficient if you clean the grass a little. You can do this by hand or use a rake. To avoid injury during this work, you should wear gloves. After all, the morning star sedge cannot do without its edges.
Hiberation:
The morning star sedge is very robust even in winter. A few measures to overwinter the plant are only necessary if the plant was planted in a bucket or pot. In the event of frost, you must provide the bucket with additional frost protection, such as straw mats or giant. Above all, however, you must provide the morning star sedge tub plant with sufficient water in winter. However, watering should only be done on frost-free days and not excessively.
Propagation of the morning star sedge
❍ Propagation by division:
In the case of a bare or too large clump of grass, it makes sense to make two plants out of one and thus propagate them. It is best to divide in the middle of the plant, with the second half then being relocated to another place. By the way, spring is the ideal time for dividing the morning star sedge.
❍ Propagation by seed:
The morning star sedge reproduces by self-seeding. If you don't want that in your garden, be sure to keep an eye on the budding seeds of the plant. Then simply remove them as needed.
If, on the other hand, you want to multiply the plant by sowing and plant it in a specific place in the garden, you must consider the following tips when sowing the cold germ:
- Late autumn or early winter is the ideal time for sowing.
- Sowing is possible outdoors or in a cold frame.
- Requires freezing action.
- Snow cover is actually beneficial for germination.
- The sowing must never dry out completely.
- Sowing is also possible in the refrigerator using a special planting tray.
Anyone who would like to sow the morning star sedge indoors should keep the sown seeds warm for two to three weeks and always keep them sufficiently moist. Only then are the morning star sedge seeds placed in the refrigerator for four weeks. They can then move outdoors to germinate outdoors. However, this projectnot always successful, so propagation by division is probably a better choice.
Possible diseases and pests on the morning star sedge
If the optimal site conditions are not met, the grass, which is actually so easy to care for, is far more susceptible to diseases and pests. This is the case, for example, if the stance is too narrow. Then rust and mold have a much easier time with the morning star sedge. Too many weeds can also ensure that the plant is not supplied with enough water and nutrients, which is why regular weed plucking should be avoided. However, this plant is rarely affected by rust if you take proper care of the morning star sedge.