Carex tumulicola grows
in beautiful arching clumps. The foliage stays dark green with less
water and help than Creeping Red Fescue. This Carex doesn't run as
much as Carex pansa or Carex praegracilis. The blades of this
grasslike plant can get as much as 18" long. I found plants
responded well to infrequent pruning to an inch or so tall. This
removed the last season's dead leaves and the plants bounced back
quickly. I have not yet tried mowing, though others report it
tolerates this reasonably well. One of the best aspects of Carex
tumulicola is that it tolerated deep shade quite nicely, and allows a
grassy area under dry growing trees and shrubs. The plants are also
quite tolerant of wet conditions as might be expected from a plant native
to our ephemeral wetlands.
High resolution images
of Carex tumulicola are available.
