Propagation
Sow fresh seeds in situ during spring in a prepared bed with frost protection or sow seed when ripe and place in a cold frame to germinate.

Division of the clump during late spring to early summer.


Botanic information
Leaf: The mid green long linear leaves are up to 15mm (?in) wide with a pale green basal sheath. The ribbed underside is bluish-green and the margins are slightly scabrid with minute teeth.

Flower: There are 6-9 brown clustered spikes that are held amongst the foliage on a slender scape. They are composed of 2-4 sessile male spikelets in the upper half and female spikelets with erect peduncles in the lower half.

The female flower is enclosed in a bladder-like perigynium consisting of 1-style and 2 or 3 stigmas. The chestnut brown glumes have a very long stiff bristly (hispid) awn and the flowers appear during early summer.

Fruit: The tiny flattened convex 3-angled nut is surrounded by a persistent perigynium. The small seeds are viable but the plant is commonly reproduced vegetatively.