Ebony & Ivory Sedge

Carex eburnea

A fine-textured woodland sedge with delicate, hair-like evergreen leaves forming soft, low clumps. The slender foliage creates a graceful, grass-like appearance that works well as a natural groundcover in dry woodlands and shaded gardens. Small, subtle flower spikes appear in spring, though the plant is primarily valued for its elegant texture and year-round foliage.

This species thrives in well-drained soils and is particularly well adapted to rocky woodlands, limestone areas, and dry forest floors. It slowly forms attractive patches that blend beautifully into natural woodland plant communities.

Growing Conditions

• Height: 6–12 in
• Spread: Clumping, slowly forming colonies
• Light: Part shade to full shade
• Soil: Dry to moderately moist, well-drained soils; tolerates rocky and sandy conditions
• Hardiness: Zone 3–8
• Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
• Evergreen foliage in many conditions
• Deer resistant and low maintenance

Ideal for woodland gardens, dry shade plantings, naturalized understories, and shaded rock gardens. Excellent as a fine-textured native groundcover.

Ecological Value

• Provides cover for insects and small woodland wildlife
• Supports biodiversity in forest understories
• Stabilizes soil in shaded woodland habitats
• Adds soft texture and year-round structure to native woodland plantings

Larval Host Plant For
Caterpillars of several native sedge-feeding moth species.

Companion Species

• Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
• White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata)
• Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica)
• Bottlebrush Grass (Elymus hystrix)
• Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)
• Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum biflorum)
• Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)

Planting to Protect
Restoring to Thrive
Origin Native Plants

3.5 inch Pots