• Photo of Carex phyllocephala (Carex phyllocephalas)

Plant Profile: Carex phyllocephala

Names

Chinese Palm sedge, Fuiri Tenjiku Sedge 'Sparkler', Palm Sedge, Sedges, Tenjiku Suge

  • Photo of Carex phyllocephala (Carex phyllocephalas)

Phonetic Spelling:KAY-reks fye-lo-SEPH-ah-lah

Genus:Carex

Species:phyllocephala

Family:Cyperaceae

When this plant, native to China, is cultivated in large groups, its whorled leaves at the top create the illusion of a grove filled with tiny, variegated palm trees. The green varieties are generally more resilient to cold compared to their cultivated counterparts. It thrives in moist, organic, well-drained soil and features appealing foliage, though it lacks dramatic visual impact.

Structure: Tall, cane-like stems.

Carex phyllocephala Feature Summary

Carex phyllocephala Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#perennial
#wildlife plant
#sedge
#ornamental grass
#wet sites
#cpp
#larval host plant
#butterfly friendly
#HS302
#pollinator garden
#various satyr butterfly

Similar Plants

Carex phyllocephala Feature Summary

Attributes
This plant supports various Satyr larvae.
Perennial
Flowers
Brown flower spike
Gold/Yellow
Brown/Copper
Green
Insignificant
Spike
Spring
Summer
Leaves
1-2 ft. stems ending in a whorl of spreading leaves
Green
White
Variegated
> 6 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Ground Cover
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Erect
Clumping
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Wet
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
10b
Landscape
Rock Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Shade Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Accent
Deer
Wet Soil
Heavy Shade
Container
Woodland
Butterflies
Pollinators

Carex phyllocephala Attributes

Carex phyllocephala: Country Or Region Of Origin

China

Carex phyllocephala: Wildlife Value

This plant supports various Satyr larvae.

Carex phyllocephala: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Carex phyllocephala: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Carex phyllocephala Flowers

Carex phyllocephala: Flower Description

Brown flower spike

Carex phyllocephala: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Brown/Copper
filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Green

Carex phyllocephala: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Carex phyllocephala: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Carex phyllocephala Leaves

Carex phyllocephala: Leaf Description

1-2 ft. stems ending in a whorl of spreading leaves

Carex phyllocephala: Leaf Color

spa
Green
spa
Variegated
spa
White

Carex phyllocephala: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Carex phyllocephala: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Carex phyllocephala: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Carex phyllocephala: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Carex phyllocephala Whole Plant Traits

Carex phyllocephala: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Carex phyllocephala: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Carex phyllocephala: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Carex phyllocephala Cultural Conditions

Carex phyllocephala: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Carex phyllocephala: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Carex phyllocephala: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Carex phyllocephala Stem

Carex phyllocephala: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Carex phyllocephala Landscape

Carex phyllocephala: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Carex phyllocephala: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Carex phyllocephala: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Carex phyllocephala: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Carex phyllocephala: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees