Although more closely related to rushes, these sedges look more grass like, with the flat blade like leaves. These are evergreen, being replaced in spring with new foliage and flowers. These tend to be quite small, brown, tans and to cream, but en masse they can produce a nice hazy effect. Good, robust ground cover, with various foliage effects from cultivated forms. Grow generally in shade, in average soils.
The tufted and ground-cover forms of wood-rush all provide shelter for amphibians and invertebrates, while the leaves and seeds are food for a number of moths. Most are micromoths, but some large ones such as smoky wainscot are known to feed on Luzula.