Bunny Blue is a compact sedge (Carex laxiculmis 'Hobb') with striking blue-green foliage that thrives in the dappled shade of woodland gardens and moist landscapes. Native to rich wooded areas in eastern North America, this evergreen perennial grows into a dense rounded clump reaching 6 to 12 inches tall and spreading 12 inches wide, making it an excellent choice for ground cover, naturalization, and rain gardens. Its fine-textured, grassy leaves create a soft textural element in partial shade, where foliage color is particularly rich. Tiny yellowish-white flowers bloom from April through July atop triangular stems, and the plant tolerates heavy shade, wet soil, clay, and erosion while resisting deer browsing. Hardy in zones 5 to 9, it requires only low maintenance and moderate water in established conditions.
Partial Shade
Moderate
5-9
12in H x 12in W
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Moderate
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The blue-green foliage of Bunny Blue sets it apart from standard green sedges, offering unexpected color interest in shaded corners where few plants thrive. Its evergreen habit means year-round structure in the garden, and it spreads slowly by rhizomes to form a dense, naturalized ground cover without becoming invasive. Unlike many sedges that languish in full shade or demand constant moisture, this variety handles heavy shade and established drought better than most of its relatives. The combination of fine texture, compact size, and remarkable tolerance for clay soil and wet conditions makes it remarkably practical for difficult sites that challenge other ornamental grasses.
Bunny Blue excels as a ground cover in shaded woodland gardens and moist naturalized areas where it slowly spreads by rhizome to create dense, attractive colonies. Its compact stature and fine texture make it well suited for edging shaded beds, softening the hard lines of pathways, and filling gaps beneath shade trees where turf grass struggles. The plant's exceptional tolerance for wet soil and clay makes it a standout choice for rain gardens and low-lying areas subject to seasonal flooding or poor drainage. Its evergreen foliage provides winter structure in the landscape, and it functions as a native alternative to non-native ornamental grasses in conservation-focused gardens.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Transplant divisions or nursery-grown plants in spring as new growth emerges, setting them at the same depth they were growing in their containers. Space plants 12 inches apart for faster ground cover establishment. Ensure soil is moist before and after planting, and water regularly until the plant is well established.
Seeds can be sown directly into moist soil in spring or fall, though propagation by division is typically more reliable and faster. In optimum conditions, established plants will self-seed in the garden.
Cut foliage to the ground and remove it in late winter before new growth emerges. This rejuvenates the evergreen clump and removes any winter-damaged or shabby foliage, promoting vigorous spring growth.
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“Carex laxiculmis, commonly called creeping sedge, is native to rich wooded areas in eastern North America, where it naturally occurs in mesic upland forests. The 'Bunny Blue' cultivar represents a selected form bred for its distinctive blue-green leaf color and compact, tidy growth habit, distinguishing it from the species type. This sedge exemplifies the growing recognition among horticulturists and gardeners of native sedges as valuable ornamentals and ecological assets; where historically these plants were overlooked in favor of ornamental grasses, breeders and nurseries now actively select for superior foliage color and garden performance. The cultivar's development reflects a broader movement toward native plant appreciation and the understanding that sedges fill ecological niches and aesthetic roles that non-native ornamental grasses cannot replicate.”