Carex ‘Feather Falls’ is a hardy ornamental sedge valued for its cascading, arching green foliage that forms soft, fountain-like clumps, typically growing around 30–50 cm tall and spreading wider over time, making it ideal for borders, mass planting, containers, and erosion control on slopes; it performs best in full sun to partial shade in moist but free-draining soils, is low maintenance, moderately drought tolerant once established, and has good tolerance of wind and light frost.
Carex feather falls
Botanical Name Carex Māori Name Common Name feather falls Family Cyperaceae Type Evergreen perennial sedge Origin Endemic to New Zealand — North, South, and Stewart Islands; also Chatham Island Mature Height 30-60cm Mature Spread 30-60cm Sun Requirements Full sun to partial shade Soil Grows well in most soils and moisture regimes; thrives in wet, boggy conditions Water Tolerance Tolerates waterlogging year-round; prefers water depths of 10–30 cm Flowering Late September to December — loosely branching drooping panicles Fruiting October to March — seeds dispersed by wind, water, and birds Wind Tolerance Good Frost Tolerance good tolerance to light frosts Drought Tolerance moderately once established Growth Rate Very fast growing Maintenance Very low Conservation Status Not Threatened Planting Tips: Ideal planting times are from autumn until late spring, allowing the plant to establish its root system before summer. Dig a hole twice the size of the root ball and mix in organic matter to enrich the soil. Space plants approximately 50–70 cm apart to allow them to spread and form a thick, lush mass.
Ideal Uses: Borders, mass planting, containers, and erosion control on slope erosion.
Ongoing Care: Pruning is primarily undertaken to remove dead or damaged foliage, which can be done at any time. If more aggressive pruning is required, this is best done in summer when the plants are actively growing, and plants can safely be reduced by up to 75% at this time — but always leave at least 10 cm of growth at the base. Avoid heavy pruning in winter. An annual application of balanced slow-release fertiliser in early spring will help promote vigorous growth if needed, though this is generally unnecessary in fertile soils.
