Carex flacca 'Blue Zinger' is an ornamental sedge known for its striking steel blue foliage and arching form. Adaptable and low maintenance, it thrives in sun to shade and spreads gently to form colorful drifts that contrast beautifully against green leaves.
Height & Spread: 8 - 12 in x 12 - 18 in
Bloom Time: Late spring
Light Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Soil Preference: Moist to dry well drained soils; tolerates clay
Watering Needs: Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
Deer Resistance: Deer resistant
Native Status
This cultivar is derived from a species native to Europe and western Asia. Widely used for its ornamental value and versatility.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Beneficial Insects
- Provides habitat and egg laying shelter for beetles and other ground dwelling insects that help regulate pest populations.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 12 - 18 in apart for an interwoven ground cover effect or more open placement in mixed borders.
Landscape Placement
- Perfect for massing along garden edges, woodland paths, or slopes where its blue foliage contrasts with green and bronze toned perennials. Suitable for containers and meadow gardens as well.
Companion Plants
- Geranium macrorrhizum (Bigroot Geranium) - Offers fragrant foliage and pink flowers that stand out against the cool tones of Carex.
- Helleborus orientalis (Lenten Rose) - Adds evergreen foliage and winter to early spring blooms in partial shade.
- Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola' (Japanese Forest Grass) - Creates graceful texture and golden contrast in mixed plantings.
- Digitalis purpurea (Foxglove) - Adds height and vertical interest while pairing well with sedge at the base.
- Allium schoenoprasum (Chives) - Offers both ornamental flower heads and edible leaves that grow well nearby in sunny gardens.