Carex Milk Chocolate = 'Milchoc'
Milk chocolate hair sedge
Also known as Carex comans 'Milk Chocolate', Carex 'Milk Chocolate'
- Height × spread
- 0.45m × 0.45m
- Position
- Tolerates full sun, likes part shade, tolerates light shade
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
Availability
Generally available in Spring & Autumn
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This sedge makes a soft dome of slender, pendulous leaves, coloured like milk chocolate. Like all brown grasses, this needs to catch the light to bring out the colour. The rays of winter sunlight, catching it from behind, are especially dramatic. It is evergreen, or rather, 'everbrown', and needs a sunny well drained site. The plant stands around 45cm (18in) high.
- Flower colour
- Brown
- Foliage colour
- Brown, Green
- Variegated
- Yes
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Fan
- Height
- 0.45m
- Spread
- 0.45m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn, Winter
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Winter garden
- Sun or shade
- Tolerates full sun, likes part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Damp and wet soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Spring-Autumn · Planting
Remove dead leaves
When leaves die they can carefully be detached or cut off at their base to improve the overall appearance of the plant. Be careful not to damage the main stems during this process.
Summer
Summer · Planting
Remove offsets to create new plants
Offsets are small plants or shoots that develop around the parent plant. They should have developed a root system of their own before they are detached. They can be planted directly, or grown in pots if so small they could be 'lost' in the garden.
Offsets may be used to replace an aged parent plant, to extend or establish a colony, or can be given away or sold.
Found in
More Carex
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Carex buchananii
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Carex comans
New Zealand hairy sedge, Hair sedge, Green wig
Carex comans 'Frosted Curls'
Frosted curls hair sedge, New Zealand hairy sedge, Hair sedge, Green wig
Carex elata 'Aurea'
Bowles's golden sedge, Tufted sedge, Stiff sedge, European tussock sedge
Carex morrowii
Japanese Morrow's sedge, Kan suge