Carex Sedge Plants for Sale

About

Carex — commonly known as sedge — is one of the most versatile and underrated foliage plants available for Australian gardens. Despite their grass-like appearance, Carex plants are not true grasses: they belong to the family Cyperaceae and are distinguished by their characteristic triangular stems, a fact captured in the classic botanical rhyme — 'sedges have edges.' With over 2,000 species found across the world's wetlands, woodlands, and meadows, Carex offers an extraordinary range of foliage colours — from burnt orange and chocolate bronze to cool silver, golden yellow, and vivid lime green. At Online Plants , our Carex collection is curated for the Australian garden context: frost-tolerant evergreen varieties that solve the problem of difficult shaded areas, permanently wet or boggy spots, and sloped sites needing erosion control — as well as eye-catching foliage specimens for pots, borders, and modern landscape designs. Every plant is backed by our 30-day grow guarantee and delivered fresh from our Melbourne nursery. What Is Carex? The Difference Between Sedges, Grasses and Rushes Carex belongs to the family Cyperaceae — it is a sedge, not a true grass. The distinction matters practically, not just botanically: unlike true ornamental grasses (family Poaceae), Carex species are cool-season plants that do their active growing in autumn, winter, and spring, and they generally prefer shade or part shade over full sun exposure. The classic botanical mnemonic helps: 'Sedges have edges, rushes are round, but grasses have nodes from their tips to the ground.' The 'edges' of sedges refer to their triangular stem cross-section — a reliable field identification feature across all 2,000+ Carex species. In Australian horticulture, Carex plants are typically sold under three geographic groups — each with meaningfully different care requirements. Understanding which group your plant belongs to is the most important step in ensuring its success. The Three Carex Groups in Austr