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Carnation Grass

Carex firma (KAY-reks FER-mah)

Family: Cyperaceae Non-native Groundcover

Glaucous sedge is an herbaceous perennial ground cover in the sedge family (Cyperaceae) native to the mountains of central and southern Europe. It is a sedge that forms dense, firm tussocks in open alpine habitat. The species epithet is Latin for “firm” and refers to the dense cushion formed by the plants in nature. Glaucous sedge tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and is very drought-tolerant. It is also tolerant of wet conditions. It grows in full sun to partial shade. It is fully hardy, even in the coldest regions of North Carolina. Some plants have green leaves while others have glaucous foliage, so pick the color form that best suits your garden. It spreads slowly by rhizomes, and it can be propagated by division. This plant is sometimes sold under the name " Carex glauca ," but that is the name of a different species. Both species may be in cultivation under misapplied names. Use this plant in a rock garden or borders. It is suitable for a winter garden, and the glaucous foliage would shine in a night garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. More information on Carex .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 47 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 5 - Groundcover
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Carex albula Carex grayi Carex morrowii
Native alternatives Carex glaucescens Carex grayi

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Ground Cover; Herbaceous Perennial; Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Mounding
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Blue; Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Sheath; Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Deltoid; Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Papery
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The flowers are borne on spikes but are insignificant.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
European Mountains
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Achene
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow
Landscape theme
Nighttime Garden; Rock Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Accent; Mass Planting
Garden tags
#drought tolerant #HS302 #sedge #ornamental grass #butterfly friendly #wet soils tolerant #wildlife friendly #herbaceous perennial #cold tolerant #grass-like
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Drought; Poor Soil; Wet Soil
Propagation
Division; Seed

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.