Carex morrowii 'Ice Ballet' is a graceful evergreen sedge prized for its slender green leaves edged in creamy white. It provides a crisp refined texture in woodland edges, shaded borders, and container arrangements. Thriving in moist soils and tolerating periodic dryness, it forms tidy clumps and creates visual structure year round.
Height & Spread: 12 - 18 in x 12 - 18 in
Bloom Time: Late spring (inconspicuous)
Light Requirements: Part shade to full shade
Soil Preference: Moist, well drained soil rich in organic matter
Watering Needs: Moderate to moist conditions preferred
Deer Resistance: Unpalatable to deer due to fibrous foliage
Native Status
Carex morrowii is native to Japan. Though not native to North America, it is well adapted to temperate garden environments and widely used in shaded landscapes.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Birds
- Foliage provides nesting cover for wrens and towhees in woodland plantings.
Beneficial Insects
- Dense basal growth offers shelter for predatory beetles and ground dwelling pollinator species such as hoverflies.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 12 - 18 in apart to allow gentle arching forms to fill in naturally while maintaining definition.
Landscape Placement:
- Ideal for woodland paths, shade gardens, or as edging along moist perennial borders. Contrasts well with broad leaved foliage plants.
Companion Plants
- Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum' - Arching stems and variegated leaves mirror sedge structure and thrive in similar conditions.
- Dryopteris erythrosora (Autumn Fern) - Coppery new fronds bring color variation and textural depth alongside sedges.
- Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' - Silver patterned leaves echo the sedge's variegation while offering larger form.
- Heuchera 'Caramel' - Warm toned foliage forms a complementary mound contrasting with the sedge’s verticality.
- Hosta 'Halcyon' - Cool blue foliage provides broad contrast to the narrow variegated blades of ‘Ice Ballet’.