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Key characteristics

Family: Cyperaceae
Height: 12 to 16 inches
Width: 18 to 24 inches
Flower color: Inconspicuous beige-brown
Foliage color: Dark green with creamy-white margins
Bloom time: Late spring
Light: Partial shade to full shade
Water: Prefers moist, well-drained soil; drought-tolerant once established
Maintenance: Low; semi-evergreen foliage requires little to no upkeep
Growing zone: USDA zones 5 to 9
Wildlife: Deer resistant

Perennials

Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance'

Ice Dance Sedge

Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance' is a variegated sedge cultivar originating from Japan. It features arching, deep green leaves edged with creamy white margins, forming a dense, mounded habit. In mid-spring, it produces small, beige to brown, bottlebrush-like flowers, though they are not particularly showy.

A notable characteristic of 'Ice Dance' is its ability to spread slowly by rhizomes, making it an effective groundcover that doesn't become invasive.

Light

Partial shade to full shade

Water

Prefers moist, well-drained soil; drought-tolerant once established

Bloom time

Late spring

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Shade Gardens
Woodland Gardens
Waterwise Gardens
Containers

Companion plants

Wild ginger · Hellebores · Japanese forest grass · Astilbes · Heucheras · Siberian bugloss

Design tip

The early flowers arrive when the garden is still waking up, so give it a spot you pass often in spring. Cooler light suits it, so tuck it on the north side of a shrub or wall where the soil stays even.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)