ornamental grass

Ice Crystal Frosty Sedge

Ficinia truncata 'Ice Crystal'

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Ice Crystal Frosty Sedge (Ficinia truncata 'Ice Crystal') at County Line Nursery

Ice Crystal Frosty Sedge foliage

Ice Crystal Frosty Sedge foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Plant Height:  8 inches

Flower Height:  18 inches

Spacing:  8 inches

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  9a

Description:

An attractive, grass-like evergreen perennial featuring tufts of dark green leaves with white margins that give the plant a frosty look; small golden-brown flowers on spikes above the foliage in spring to summer; great for beds, borders or containers

Ornamental Features

Ice Crystal Frosty Sedge's attractive recurved grassy leaves remain dark green in color with distinctive white edges and tinges of silver throughout the year on a plant with a low base above which the flowers rise. It has spikes of harvest gold ball-shaped flowers with gold overtones rising above the foliage from early spring to early summer.

Landscape Attributes

Ice Crystal Frosty Sedge is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial grass with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Ice Crystal Frosty Sedge is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • Rock/Alpine Gardens
  • Border Edging
  • General Garden Use
  • Container Planting
  • Hanging Baskets

Planting & Growing

Ice Crystal Frosty Sedge will grow to be about 8 inches tall at maturity extending to 18 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 10 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 8 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for alkaline soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This is a selection of a native North American species. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Ice Crystal Frosty Sedge is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor containers and hanging baskets. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight Soil pH Preference
Characteristics
Massing  Rock  Edging  Garden  Container  Basket 
Applications
Flowers  Foliage Color  Texture 
Ornamental Features