Carex riparia - Great Pond Sedge

Family:	Cyperaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	1.5
Width:	2
Synonyms:
Range:	Much of Europe, excluding the north but including Britain, N. Africa, W. Asia and the Caucasus.

Carex riparia (Great Pond Sedge) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1.5m and a width of 2m . It has a fast growth rate. It has a hardness rating of 6.
Great Pond Sedge will flower in November to December. the seeds ripen from January to February
The flowers from this plant are monoecious (both sexes are found on the plant but each flower is either male or female) and they are pollinated by Wind

Soil Information

Great Pond Sedge will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Great Pond Sedge prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Great Pond Sedge can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

By slow flowing rivers, in ditches and ponds and occasionally on drier ground[17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Can be planted in Cultivated Beds
• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in a damp to wet soil in full sun or shade[162, 200]. A very aggressive and invasive plant[162, 200]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 1/5
Root - cooked[172]. Seed[172]. No further details are given, but the seed is small and fiddly to use[K].

• Root - includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
• Seed - includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 0/5
None known

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ in the spring in a moist soil in light shade. If seed is in short supply it can be sown in a cold frame and be planted out in the summer. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 6 weeks at 15°c[138]. Division in spring[200]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer or following spring.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

The straw is used for bedding[61].

• Bedding - Used as a lining for sleeping on or putting fruits etc on.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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