Page 66 - Free State Summer 2023

CULTIVATING COMMUNICATION (Continued)

knowledge and moisture requirements acclaim as the perfect fit for rain sedge for your site very easy. There is a
for turf vs. moisture requirements for gardens. And then in January 2023, our sedge for every situation, but not every
Schizachyrium are vastly different. The world was “rocked” by the Mt. Cuba sedge will work in every situation!
same is true for soil amendments and report (https://mtcubacenter.org/trials/ The takeaway? Grasses have come a
supplemental fertilization, both over- carex-for-the-mid-atlantic-region/), and long way in the last 25 years. Whether
fertilizing and over-watering will cause we all wanted Carex woodii. due to improved varieties or simply a
Little Bluestem to flop. Personally, I’m not The genus Carex is a terrific group newfound acceptance (ex. meadows
a fan of floppy plants – are you? of plants that should be used in the and naturalistic plantings where

So, let’s end with our native Carex sp. landscape much more. Whether you grasses play an integral role), this group
(the sedges) – the relatively new kids on are looking for a lawn alternative, of plants are sure to complement any
the block in the commercial horticulture a traditional groundcover, a matrix landscape. As with any plant, it is critical
world. Carex pensylvanica graced our planting, or a stormwater management to “learn” the grasses and understand
catalogs as the wonder plant for dry planting – a Carex will fit the bill. And their needs. When the needs are met,
shade and is now produced by the tens the research from Mt. Cuba Center the result is a successful landscape. A
of thousands. Carex stricta received (Hockessin, DE) makes finding the right

®
Andropogon 'Holy Smoke' PP33,929 with Coreopsis x 'Gilded Lace' and Kniphofia Pyromania 'Orange
Blaze' PP31,545

Carex pensylvanica

Wendy Brister
Marketing Director
Cavano’s Perennials, Inc.
Kingsville MD
410-592-8077
wendy@cavanos.com
Andropogon 'Blackhawks' PP27,949

66 SUMMER 2023 • Free State News