(syn: Dichromena colorata) From the savannah and marsh regions of coastal Virginia through Florida comes this truly bizarre member of the sedge family. The slowly spreading patches (3' wide in 2 years) of Rhynchospora colorata are composed of sedge-like foliage until mid-May (NC), when the 15" stalks are topped with spectacular white bracts (modified leaves) that surround the tiny flowers. While rhynchospora will prosper in all but the driest of garden soils, it prefers a moist boggy site, right beside the leaking water garden pool. If you've got a horticultural know-it-all nearby, I bet a white-top sedge will fool them! We previously offered this clone as Rhynchospora latifolia, which is the name we obtained it under, but have concluded it to actually be Rhynchospora colorata...apologies.
