Carex caryophyllea 'The Beatles' - The Beatles Spring or Vernal Sedge

The Latin word caryophyllea means "of the colour or odour of cloves". 'The Beatles' and 'Beatlemania' are very similar except that C. 'Beatlemania' has a narrow yellow edge. When grown in shade the leaves are darker green than in the picture. This plant is growing in full hot sun, resulting in a lighter green colour.

Sends out short runner and gradually forms a colony of mop-head-like foliage.

This beautiful ground cover would look great on roof-top gardens or as an understory for dwarf confers or Japanese maples. For the total grassy look, try this Carex with some of the tall Molinias (arundinacea).

In 2007-8 Carex 'The Beatles’ overwintered here in good shape." C. Dauk, Zone 2a, Saskatchewan, Canada

Description: cool season; evergreen in mild climates; slow spreader
Foliage - green; narrow; 20 cm (8") tall
Flowers - in May but are inconspicuous

Ideal conditions: light shade to full shade; moist soil

Coldest zone: 5 to 9 (find your zone; further info on plant hardiness)

Season of interest: April to winter

Partner with: hostas, shady rock garden plants, Astilbe, ferns, rhododenrons, Dicentra

Suggested uses: ground cover (particularly nice on slopes), shady rock gardens, Japanese gardens

Drought tolerance rating: 3 (water to root depth every week) further info

Native to: the species is native to north-eastern USA

Recommended spacing between plants: 30 cm (12") why such a difference?

Pronunciation: Carex (KAIR-ex) caryophyllea (kar-ee-oh-fil-EE-uh)

More ornamental grasses

Compare Carex caryophyllea 'The Beatles' to our other grasses in this handy chart.