It has soft, hair-like blades that grow in a rounded clump as tall as it is wide. In spring, three to five small spikes of greenish-white flowers appear, attracting some early pollinators. These are followed later in the season by small round brownish-black fruits that remain on the plants from May to July, unless eaten by birds or other wildlife. These fruits are the reason the plant is sometimes known as ebony sedge. Though it’s considered an ornamental grass, being a sedge, it’s not technically a true grass. It’s a useful plant to know about because most sedges need a fair amount of sun to thrive, but bristleleaf sedge grows quite happily in shade. Though its appearance is somewhat delicate compared to other sedges, this tough and cold hardy plant has naturalized all across the United States. It is native to eastern and central North America, but it can be found in a variety of landscapes from Alaska to New Mexico. You might see bristleleaf sedge growing out of crevices in limestone bluffs in Missouri, and along wooded river bluffs from Mississippi to Minnesota. It favors certain tree species to grow near, in particular deciduous trees and conifers, and is often found growing in or near stands of cedar. This shade-loving sedge is a good choice for planting in shady areas where grass won’t grow and the soil is not terribly fertile. Some gardeners even grow it as an alternative to having a lawn, because it doesn’t have to be mowed, yet provides a luxuriant green ground cover that looks much like a classic grass cover. It should go without saying, it’s better to try and obtain this plant commercially than to remove it from its native environment. In fact, bristleleaf sedge is considered endangered in some Northeastern states. Once established in home gardens, it naturalizes well, and is fairly resistant to deer, as most sedges are. The bristleleaf sedge is a somewhat slow grower, as it spreads via rhizome rather than seed. In optimal conditions, it can grow very large colonies and make an effective and attractive ground cover.
Light
Bristlelead sedge is very heat tolerant, though it still prefers being grown in shady spots.
Soil
This plant is fairly tolerant of different soil types and will grow equally well in sandy or rocky soils. Adding compost and organic matter such as shredded leaves to the planting area can help make an inviting environment to establish your bristle leaf sedge. It can even grow in woodland gardens as long as the soil is not too acidic. Bristleleaf sedge prefers alkaline soil to acid soil, so try to avoid planting it near pine trees, and don’t add peat moss or coffee grounds as soil amendments, as these tend to make your soil more acidic. It has a very high tolerance for calcium in soils, as well as limestone. If you know your soil tends to be acidic, consider adding some lime to it before planting bristleleaf sedge, and mix a bit of lime into the soil around the plants in autumn.
Water
Carex eburnea is a drought-tolerant species and does not require a lot of additional irrigation.
Fertilizer
If the soil is decent, bristleleaf sedge shouldn’t need any additional fertilizer once established.
Pruning
You can cut Carex eburnea back to the ground in late autumn or in late winter, to make room for fresh growth in spring.
Propagating Bristlelead Sedge
Carex eburnea can be divided and replanted, and the divisions should have dead or dried growth removed before planting, much as you might clean up and trim a German iris rhizome.
