Genus
Carex
21 US plant patents have been granted in this genus. 2 are already in the public domain — anyone may propagate and sell them. The next of the 19 still protected comes off patent on February 6, 2028.
Still under patent — 19 cultivars
Soonest to come off patent first. You may not propagate these for sale until the date shown.
- Ice BalletPP20228Carex plant named ‘Ice Ballet’UNDER PATENTFebruary 6, 2028
- REKOHU SUNRISEPP20512Carex plant named ‘REKOHU SUNRISE’UNDER PATENTAugust 9, 2028
- CarFit01PP20955Carex plant named ‘CarFit01’UNDER PATENTNovember 12, 2028
- EverilloPP21002Carex plant named ‘Everillo’UNDER PATENTMarch 25, 2029
- Ice CreamPP21463Carex plant named ‘Ice Cream’UNDER PATENTAugust 10, 2029
- EveroroPP23406Carex plant named ‘Everoro’UNDER PATENTSeptember 14, 2031
- Spark PlugPP24597Carex plant name ‘Spark Plug’UNDER PATENTJanuary 29, 2033
- EverdiPP25086Carex plant named ‘Everdi’UNDER PATENTApril 8, 2033
- EverlimePP25622Carex plant named ‘Everlime’UNDER PATENTJanuary 11, 2034
- EversheenPP25938Carex plant named ‘Eversheen’UNDER PATENTMarch 11, 2034
- ET CRX01PP26199Carex plant named ‘ET CRX01’UNDER PATENTMay 3, 2034
- FicrePP27967Carex plant named ‘Ficre’UNDER PATENTSeptember 18, 2035
- Straw HatPP29432Carex pensylvanica plant named ‘Straw Hat’UNDER PATENTMarch 7, 2036
- EverlitePP28568Carex plant named ‘Everlite’UNDER PATENTMarch 19, 2036
- ET CRX02PP29950Carex plant named ‘ET CRX02’UNDER PATENTJune 12, 2037
- EverglowPP30466Carex plant named ‘Everglow’UNDER PATENTDecember 18, 2037
- MMCreamPP31542Carex plant named ‘MMCream’UNDER PATENTOctober 12, 2038
- ET CRX 904PP35022Carex plant named ‘ET CRX 904’UNDER PATENTSeptember 9, 2042
- Lunar FallsPP37205Carex plant named ‘Lunar Falls’UNDER PATENTJuly 19, 2045
Already in the public domain — 2 cultivars
Most recently freed first. Anyone may propagate and sell these plants — though the name it is sold under may still be a live trademark.
- Treasure IslandPP16332Carex plant named ‘Treasure Island’PUBLIC DOMAINApril 8, 2025
- Lemon ZestPP14463Carex siderosticha plant named ‘Lemon Zest’PUBLIC DOMAINJune 2, 2023
A patent expiring frees the plant, and its cultivar name comes with it — cultivar names cannot be trademarked, so they are always free to use. What it does not free is any brand name the plant is marketed under. Those are trademarks and renew indefinitely.