Ficinia Ice Crystal

Description

Ficinia truncata ‘Ice Crystal’ – Cape rush

Botanical name: Ficinia truncata ‘Ice Crystal’
Common names: Cape rush, ice crystal grass
Family: Cyperaceae (sedge family)
Plant type: Evergreen sedge
Habit: Compact, neat, mound-forming
Pot size: 2–3 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 25–30cm tall × 30cm spread
Foliage: Fine, glossy green leaves crisply edged with silvery-white, forming a neat mound; evergreen
Flowers: Insignificant; grown for its foliage
Scent: Not scented
Aspect / light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Well-drained; sharp drainage in winter; any pH
Hardiness: RHS H3 (half-hardy; roughly −5 to 1°C); needs a sheltered spot or winter protection; USDA zones 9–10
Exposure: Warm, sheltered, sunny
Native range: Species native to South Africa
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Generally considered non-toxic to people and pets

Ficinia ‘Ice Crystal’ is a neat, glossy evergreen sedge with fine green leaves crisply edged in silvery-white, forming a tidy mound. Bright and elegant, it is superb in containers and sheltered sunny spots.

GardenAdvice notes

A compact, mound-forming evergreen sedge from South Africa, ‘Ice Crystal’ is grown for its glossy green, silver-edged foliage, which stays bright and neat year-round. Tender in cold gardens, it is at its best in containers and sheltered, sunny positions, where its crisp variegation and tidy shape make it a smart, contemporary choice.

Growing & planting

Plant in spring in well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade, in a warm, sheltered spot — it is not fully hardy, so in most gardens it is best grown in a container that can be moved somewhere frost-free over winter. It needs sharp drainage, disliking winter wet. Space about 30cm apart.

Care & maintenance

Low-maintenance in the growing season: comb out any dead leaves in spring and keep it tidy. The key is winter protection — in cold or wet gardens, move containers into a frost-free greenhouse, porch or conservatory, or provide shelter and fleece. Keep it on the dry side over winter to avoid rot.

Propagation

• Division: Lift and divide clumps in spring.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free in the growing season. Its main vulnerability is cold, wet winters, which can kill it, so shelter and sharp drainage are essential. Otherwise little troubled by pests.

Uses in the garden

Superb in containers and pots on a sheltered patio, in contemporary plantings and in mild, coastal gardens, where its crisp silver-edged foliage brings a neat, year-round sparkle.

Wildlife value

The neat evergreen foliage provides minor ground-level cover; its main value is ornamental.

Toxicity & safety

Cape rush is generally regarded as non-toxic to people and pets.

GardenAdvice tip

‘Ice Crystal’ is a smart, glossy little sedge for a pot, but treat it as slightly tender — in most of the country it won’t reliably survive a cold, wet winter outdoors, so grow it in a container you can move under cover from autumn. Keep it on the dry side through winter, as it’s wet rather than cold that usually finishes it off.

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