Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

Grass Like

Ficinia truncata

truncate ficinia

A tender, evergreen perennial sedge with short rhizomes, forming a low mound of grass-like foliage to 10cm tall. In summer, taller stems bear inconspicuous clusters of brown flowers. Best grown in a container so that it can be moved to a cool greenhouse during winter

Save to My plants

Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Cyperaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Ficinia are a genus of around 70 species of tufted or rhizomatous, decorative sedges and are common to Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The slim green grasslike foliage may be edged with white and some produce inconspicuous brown flowers in the summer
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Cape Province

How to grow

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in humus-rich, moist compost in full light. In summer, water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser 3 or 4 times; reduce water in autumn but do not allow to dry out, and protect from frost

Propagation

Propagate by sowing seed at 21°C in early spring, or by division in spring or autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Patio and container plants
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Trim off old flower stalks

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.