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Grass Like

Carex dipsacea 'Dark Horse'

sedge 'Dark Horse'

Dense, clump-forming, evergreen perennial 60-75cm tall, with foliage in shades of bronze and olive-green, tinted pink and becoming darker, flushed deep bronze-red, in winter. Carries semi-trailing black flower spikes within the foliage, during summer

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

West–facing or South–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Cyperaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Tufted
Genus: Carex can be deciduous or evergreen, rhizomatous or tufted perennials, with triangular stems bearing linear or strap-shaped leaves and short or long spikes of tiny green or brown flowers
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Best in a sheltered position, in moist but well-drained soil in sun or part shade. See ornamental grasses cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sown in containers in a cold frame in spring or by division in early summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Coastal
Gravel garden
Patio and container plants
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Comb, rake out or cut back any dead leaves and flowers in spring

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.