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Japanese Sedge

Carex oshimensis

Japanese Sedge (Carex oshimensis) growing in a UK garden

A compact, evergreen grass-like sedge with arching, leathery leaves typically edged or striped in creamy white or gold. Despite being a sedge rather than a true grass, Carex oshimensis fills the same design role in UK gardens. The popular cultivar 'Evergold' has bright golden-yellow leaves with dark green margins and holds its colour year-round. It excels in containers, shaded borders, and as ground cover beneath trees and shrubs.

How to grow japanese sedge

Plant in partial shade or dappled light with moisture-retentive but not waterlogged soil. Carex oshimensis tolerates full shade, though variegated forms show their best colour with some indirect light. It also copes with more sun if the soil stays moist. Enrich the planting hole with garden compost or leaf mould. Water regularly during dry spells, especially in the first growing season. Once established, it is reasonably drought tolerant in shade. Feed lightly in spring with a balanced granular fertiliser. This sedge is evergreen and looks good through winter, though some older leaves may brown at the tips by late winter. It grows well in containers using a peat-free multipurpose compost. Space plants 30-40 cm apart for ground cover.

Pruning

Comb out any dead or tatty foliage in early spring. Avoid cutting back hard as the plant is evergreen and may look bare for several months before recovering. Simply remove damaged leaves at the base with secateurs.

Propagation

  • Division in spring

Common problems

  • Brown leaf tips in very dry conditions
  • Slugs on young growth in damp weather
  • Loss of variegation in deep shade

Good companions

Blue Fescue

Festuca glauca

Hart's Tongue Fern

Asplenium scolopendrium

Lady Fern

Athyrium filix-femina

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