Zone 8 · winter lows 10°F to 20°F

Carex for Zone 8

77 Carex varieties rated hardy through Zone 8, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 8 is mild winters open the door to broadleaf evergreens and early bloom.

77 hardy hereof 84 Carex totalLast frost ~late March

The Carex that thrive in Zone 8

#1 most saved

Pennsylvania Sedge

Carex pensylvanica

Zones 4–8· 184 saves· from $12

#2 most saved

Everillo Sedge

Carex omegata 'Everillo'

Zones 5–9· 156 saves· from $12

#3 most saved

Evergold Japanese Sedge

Carex oshimensis 'Evergold'

Zones 5–9· 140 saves· from $11

Comosa Sedge

Carex comosa

Zones 4–9· 106 saves

Shortbeak Sedge

Carex brevior

Zones 4–8· 99 saves

Japanese Sedge

Carex morrowii

Zones 5–9· 98 saves

Ivory Sedge

Carex eburnea

Zones 4–8· 97 saves· from $23

Hobb Bunny Blue Sedge

Carex laxiculmus 'Hobb Bunny Blue Sedge'

Zones 4–9· 93 saves· from $16

Snow Cap sedge

Carex carex flacca 'Snow Cap'

Zones 4–9· 84 saves

Ice Dance Japanese Sedge

Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance'

Zones 5–9· 82 saves· from $14

Everoro Sedge

Carex elongata 'Everoro'

Zones 4–10· 80 saves· from $14

Japanese sedge

Carex oshimensis

Zones 5–9· 79 saves

Blue Zinger Sedge

Carex flacca 'Blue Zinger'

Zones 4–9· 78 saves· from $16

European wood sedge

Carex divulsa

Zones 4–8· 74 saves· from $27

Firefox Sedge

Carex flaccosperma 'Firefox'

Zones 5–8· 73 saves· from $38

Bowles' Golden Sedge

Carex elata 'Aurea'

Zones 5–8· 73 saves· from $15

Bird's-foot Sedge

Carex ornithopoda

Zones 4–9· 69 saves

Gold Fountains Sedge

Carex dolichostachya 'Kaga Nishiki'

Zones 5–9· 67 saves

Silk Tassel Carex

Carex lanceolata 'Silk Tassel'

Zones 5–8· 66 saves· from $23

Beatlemania Sedge

Carex caryophyllea 'Beatlemania'

Zones 5–9· 66 saves

Spring Sedge

Carex graminea

Zones 4–8· 64 saves

Hime sedge

Carex conica 'Hime'

Zones 5–9· 59 saves

Tufted Sedge

Carex elata

Zones 5–9· 58 saves

Banana Boat Sedge

Carex siderosticta 'Banana Boat'

Zones 4–9· 55 saves

Showing the 24 most-saved of 77 Zone 8–hardy Carex varieties. See the full Carex list →

Carex in Zone 8

Will Carex survive a Zone 8 winter?

77 of the 84 Carex varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 8, where winter lows reach 10°F to 20°F. Hardiness is per-variety, not per-genus — the plants listed above are the ones that hold up; others in the genus are not rated for this zone.

When should I plant Carex in Zone 8?

In Zone 8 the last spring frost typically lands around late March and the first fall frost around mid-November. Planting after the last frost — or in early fall, so roots establish before the ground cools — gives the best establishment. Each plant page lists its own planting months.

Which Carex is best for Zone 8?

Start at the top of the list above: it is ranked by how many gardeners actually save and grow each variety, which is a strong real-world reliability signal. Then narrow by your sun exposure and the mature size that fits the bed.

Keep exploring

All Carex

Every Carex variety (84)

Carex in other zones

More for Zone 8

See Carex in your Zone 8 yard

Snap a photo of your space and Sow places these varieties in it at true mature size — then keeps the care schedule for everything you plant.