Luzula sylvatica Surprise

Luzula sylvatica 'Surprise' is a recently obtained hybrid variety of Wood-Rush, particularly interesting for its remarkably bright foliage, randomly variegated with cream. It willingly grows wherever shade prevails over light. A real eye-catcher from January to December, this sparkling ground cover slowly spreads in the dark areas of the garden, dotted with sometimes completely cream-white young shoots in spring and adorned with light spikelets. An essential perennial for difficult spots!

Luzula sylvatica is a herbaceous perennial plant with a large, weakly creeping stump, belonging to the family of rush plants, along with the rushes found in wet places. Unlike them, wood-rush tolerates drier conditions very well, and its foliage is composed of linear and widened, rather than cylindrical, leaves. The wood-rush, native to central and southern Europe, as well as Asia Minor and the Caucasus, is a widely distributed plant in woods and undergrowth. The 'Surprise' variety boasts a foliage strongly variegated with white and cream, which stands out beautifully in the shade throughout the year. The plant forms a dense cushion-like clump, reaching 30 cm (12 in) in height and expanding over time. The evergreen leaves are arranged in long, wide strips measuring 6 to 12 mm (0.2 to 0.5 in), slightly trailing and quite flexible in appearance. The small light brown-orange flowers appear in April-May, gathered in lightly branched panicles on thin stems.

Adoring the dimmed atmosphere of leafy woods, Luzula sylvatica 'Surprise' is an excellent shade plant and very hardy. As its name suggests, it thrives well under deciduous trees or small shrubs, in occasionally dry shade, or in humus-rich soil. Plant it on slopes or in borders, alongside barrenworts, periwinkles (Vinca), bigroot geraniums or coral bells. It also grows very well in pots and can be used to adorn the base of shrubs grown in large pots, such as camellias or hibiscus.