EverColor sedges Every beautiful grassy texture

from UAC Magazine - Spring 2019

by Georgia Urban Ag Council

Fragrance with a bonus Please your sense of smell, attract pollinators

EverColor Sedges

Ever beautiful grassy texture

by Norman Winter, Horticulturist, Author and Speaker

The EverColor series of sedges is growing

and all are proving to be ideal components in mixed containers. They are so dynamic they have the ability to be stand alone or as monoculture plants in tall European urns, olive jars or modern containers. In the landscape however, they offer not only color but that fine leaf texture than stands out in great contrast with shrubs, perennials or annuals.

Everillo has been and will always be my first go-to selection. The bright golden chartreuse is simply incredible in those shifting filtered light areas of the landscape. Now after a few years of maturity they are even more dazzling than I could have ever dreamed. They are also attaining a size that really makes an impact.

Everlite has cream-colored leaves with dark green margins or edges. It is the most compact selection but offers a unique curl that makes it stand out. Perish the thought if you think cream colored foliage can garner attention as much as golden garden chartreuse, however.

Everlite will reach 10 inches tall and 8 inches wide. But I feel in the South after watching Everillo out-perform its projections that Everlite will probably reach 12 to 14 inches. It is the most cold hardy, recommended all the way to zone 4b. All of the others are zones 5-9.

EverColor Everest, like Everillo, will reach 18 inches tall and as wide and might best be described as green leafed with white stripes. Everlime is the same height and though lime it is more subdued than Everillo with green leaves and lime margins. Everoro will be a sure-fire hit falling in sized between Everlite and Everillo but dazzling with green leaves that feature a large bright gold central band.

I also like Eversheen, which is slightly smaller than Everillo reaching 16 inches tall and wide with green leaves and a bight lime stripe in the middle. Lastly is Everglow that is 12 to 18 inches tall with green and gold variegation that exhibits orange in the central lower parts of the plant. While they all may sound similar, I assure you each has distinct color patterns.

Botanically speaking, these EverColor grasses or sedges are all selections of Carex oshimensis or Japanese sedge. There seems to be no plant combination that is not made better by partnering with one of these grasses. The

Everlite carex is the most compact of the EverColor group and is also the most coldhardy Eversheen carex offers green and lime striped

trade is suggesting they be used as dazzling companions with hostas and ferns, and no doubt that would be a garden of staggering beauty. But I watched them in the cool season with pansies, dianthus, and burgundy-leafed chard. They are simply beautiful. This will all give way. however, to combinations with SunPatiens, caladiums or begonias, elephant ears and bananas for a look like Carnival in the Tropics. All of the landscape situations are mesmerizing and you’ll see why the series is named EverColor.

They are included in the Southern Living Plant Collection and EverColor® group created by Pat Fitzgerald, the originator of the plant. With such cold hardiness (zones 5-9) most of the country will find these extremely easy to grow with good soil preparation. Fertile, organicrich soil will not only give you the green thumb but the most sizzling combinations in the neighborhood whether in the landscape, mixed containers or monoculture. I hope you will give them a try.