Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Evergold Japanese Sedge: Cream and Green Stripes for Shady Edges
Save
Evergold Japanese sedge is one of the best-known variegated sedges. Each narrow leaf has a broad creamy yellow center stripe and dark green edges, and together they arch out from the crown and cascade to the ground in a soft, rounded fountain about a foot tall and a foot and a half wide. It looks a bit like a striped mop, in the nicest possible way.
It has also earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. For lavender gardeners, though, the important detail is that Evergold wants part shade and steady moisture, so it lives on the shady side of the garden, not in the lavender bed.
Evergold at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Carex oshimensis 'Evergold' |
| Foliage | Creamy yellow center with dark green edges |
| Flowers | Small brownish spikes in spring, easy to miss |
| Size | About 12 inches tall, 18 inches wide |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 5 to 9 |
| Light | Part sun to part shade |
| Deer | Resistant |
| Water needs | Evenly moist; not very drought tolerant |
Using Evergold around a lavender garden
Lavender gardens usually come with shady leftovers: the strip along the north side of a garage, the edge of a woodland path or a container corner on a covered porch. Evergold is made for those spots. Its fine, striped texture softens hard edges, and its cream tones pick up light without being as loud as a solid-gold plant.
Use a row along a shaded path that leads to your sunny lavender beds, or tuck several between hostas and ferns for contrast in leaf shape. The Companion Plant Planner helps keep the sun lovers and shade lovers in their own zones.
Planting and care
- Light: part shade. Afternoon sun in dry soil browns the leaf tips.
- Soil: average to moist and well-drained. Wet, poorly drained soil can lead to crown rot.
- Water: regularly, and especially in dry spells. This is the biggest difference from a lavender-style plant.
- Spring cleanup: comb out or snip away winter-damaged leaves before new growth starts.
- Winter: semi-evergreen in Michigan. Leaves may winter-burn in exposed sites, so mulch lightly and keep it out of harsh wind.
In containers
Evergold is a dependable container plant. Its fountain shape spills over the rim, and its stripes go with almost any flower color. In pots, check moisture more often, since containers dry out faster than garden beds.
About the plug tray
Evergold is offered as a 72-cell plug tray, a good fit for growers and for gardeners lining a long shaded walk or planting many containers. See the product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Can Evergold take full sun like lavender?
Not well. In sun and dry soil the leaf tips brown. It is happiest in part shade with regular water.
What is the difference between Evergold and Everillo?
Evergold is the striped parent with cream centers and green edges. Everillo is its solid-gold offspring and grows wider.
Does it spread?
It grows as a clump that slowly widens into a low fountain rather than running through the bed.
Share how it went in your field