Carex oshimensis 'Evercream' is a striking variegated sedge with narrow arching leaves edged in creamy white and centered in green. This evergreen groundcover adds year round brightness and soft texture to shaded beds, containers, and along walkways. Its mounded grass like form stays neat without pruning and it is especially effective at illuminating darker garden corners.
Height & Spread: 12 - 18 in x 18 - 24 in
Bloom Time: Late spring
Light Requirements: Part shade to full shade
Soil Preference: Moist, well drained soil
Watering Needs: Average; more during heat
Deer Resistance: Unpalatable to deer and rabbits
Native Status
Native to Honshu Japan, Carex oshimensis cultivars are not native to North America but perform well in temperate shade gardens across many regions.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Birds
- The dense foliage offers low nesting and cover opportunities for small songbirds such as wrens and sparrows especially in mixed plantings.
Beneficial Insects
- Supports predatory beetles and ground dwelling pollinators by offering cool moist shelter beneath its evergreen canopy.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 12 - 18 in apart to encourage low carpeting without overcrowding in shade plantings or borders.
Landscape Placement:
- Ideal for edging shady paths, container plantings, or as a soft filler beneath shrubs. Combines well with spring bulbs and woodland perennials.
Companion Plants
- Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum' - Arching stems and creamy variegation offer continuity and height in part shade borders.
- Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' - Silvery patterned foliage and bright blue flowers pair well with the creamy edges of ‘Evercream’.
- Helleborus 'Ivory Prince' - Upright blooms and evergreen foliage echo the soft tones of the sedge while brightening winter gardens.
- Heuchera 'Palace Purple' - Deep burgundy leaves add bold contrast to the fine variegated grass blades.
- Epimedium x rubrum' - Delicate heart shaped leaves and red spring blooms enhance the textural diversity of shaded beds.