Morrow’s sedge is a grass-like herbaceous perennial in the sedge family (Cyperaceae) native to Japan. The species epithet honors Dr. James Morrow, a botanist and agricultural scientist who accompanied Commodore Matthew C. Perry on his expeditions to open Japan to international trade. Morrow’s sedge grows in moist, acidic soil in any light conditions, but a site in full sun will need constant moisture. In shadier sites, the plant can tolerate occasional droughts. It is an easy-to-grow, trouble-free, ornamental sedge. This evergreen sedge is good for mass planting in beds under trees and shady borders, or it can be used as an accent plant in a container or rock garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Rarely troubled by aphids and rhizoctonia. More information on Carex .
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.
Ground Cover; Herbaceous Perennial; Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | 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
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Moist
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Dense; Mounding
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Green; White
Leaf type
Sheath; Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Flat, thick, 1/4- to 1/2-inch wide, dark green, edged in white, 12 inches long.
Flower color
Green
Flower form
Insignificant; Spike
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Short-lived spikes with 4-6 small flowers in spring.