Perennial of the Month-- March 2008  

(CARE-ex dol-ee-cho-STA-che-yah) (pronunciation at link, turn up volume if too low)

Common name: Gold Fountain Sedge, Gold Fountains

Family: Cyperaceae, Sedge

Height x width: 10-12in. high and wide

Growth rate, habit: moderate, long-lived, arching mound

Foliage: (click for closeup image)  narrow 1/4in. wide and to 12in. long, bright gold with green centers, evergreen (zones 7-9)

Flowers: not significant

Hardiness: USDA zones 5-9

Soil: prefers moist, tolerates dry (once established), average

Light: most gold color in sun, tolerates shade

Pests and problems: none significant

Landscape habit, uses: massed groundcover, edges of beds and walks, woodlands, containers, rock garden; combines well with blue-leaved or golden-edged leaved hostas, purple-leaved coralbells  in shade; in sun try with purple speedwells, Russian sage, salvia, blue fescues, blue oat grass, Shenandoah switchgrass

Other interest: deer resistant; cultivar name in Japanese comes from the former name of the Ishkawa Prefecture (Naga), and the word for brocade (nishiki); may be seen as a selection of var. glaberrima; introduced from Japan by Barry Yinger; similar is the popular cultivar 'Bowles Golden', only yellow with green edges,  larger and more upright, and more often used in wet soils

Other culture: cut leaves to ground in spring before new growth emerges if brown and winter-injured

Propagation: division every few years if needed

Sources:  specialty mail order, online, and local perennial nurseries; North Creek Nurseries (wholesale, 2008), Plant Delights Nursery (2008)