Dichromena colorata - Star Grass, Pond Marginal Plant

Dichromena colorata (now listed as Rhynchospora colorata), known as star grass or white star sedge, is a grass-like sedge with narrow green leaves. What look like white flowers are star-shaped white bracts with green tips around small flower heads. They appear from July and last into November.

Star grass at a glance

Botanical name	Rhynchospora colorata (syn. Dichromena colorata)
Common name	Star grass, white star sedge
Plant type	Grass-like sedge; spreads slowly by rhizomes and dies back in winter
Height and spread	About 40–60 cm tall, 30–60 cm wide
Flowers	White, star-shaped bracts with green tips, July to November
Position	Full sun or part shade
Soil	Wet or permanently moist soil that never dries out
Pond depth	Waterlogged soil or the very shallow margin; no source gives a water depth
Hardiness	Borderline: sources disagree (no RHS H-rating published)
Native to	South-east USA to the Caribbean (not UK native)

Where to plant star grass

Waterlogged soil at the very edge of a pond
Bog gardens and wet borders that never dry out
Full sun or light shade

Is star grass hardy?

Sources disagree. One UK nursery calls it fully hardy, while another rates it half-hardy, to about -5°C, and advises winter protection in most of the UK. There is no RHS hardiness rating. In colder gardens, give it winter protection.

How to plant and care for it

Plant in spring or summer in soil that stays wet. It dies back below ground in autumn; leave the old foliage over winter and trim it in late spring. Do not let it dry out.

Which size should I buy?

Bare-root plants (7 cm, 9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre) arrive without a pot or compost and are the most economical way to plant a group. Potted plants (9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre) arrive growing in our peat-free compost and give a faster display. Packs of 3 come in 7 cm, 9 cm, 1 litre and 3 litre bare-root sizes and cost less per plant. The 2x Pot & Compost option is two plants supplied with pots and compost.