Not all sedges are the same and this one is a beauty! The finely textured, medium green leaves of Appalachian Sedge grow between 12-18 inches in length, but the clumps arch gracefully over to the ground, actually only 6 to 10 inches tall. It can be grown as a specimen, where it provides beautiful textural contrast to broad leaf neighbors in the garden, or it can be grown en masse, catching the light and creating terrific visual movement as it swirls around rocks or trees, especially on a hillside. Native in dry woodlands from Canada to South Carolina, it tolerates poor soils (as long as it is not wet) and is a great plant for a no-mow lawn alternative in various levels of light, from shade to dappled sun to part sun in our part of the country (Piedmont).
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Carex appalachica
Key Info
Scientific Name: Carex appalachica J. Webber & P.W. Ball
Common Names: Appalachian sedge
Family Names: Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Flower Color: Inconspicuous
Additional Info
Habit: Small, clumping sedge with grass-like leaves protruding from a central mound
Height: 1'- 2'
Spread: 1'- 2'
Soil Conditions: moist to dry, well drained soil
Leaves: Fine, grass-like leaves 12 - 18" long, 1/8 " wide, draping to the ground.
Flowers (or reproductive structures: Inconspicuous
Fruit: Showy clusters of small seeds on the ends of fruting stalks
Natural Distribution: Woodlands, rocky hillside, stream banks
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 to 8
USDA Wetland Indicator Status in NC: UPL
Pollination: Bees, butterflies, other insects
Wildlife Connections: Deer resistant; cover for small mammals and ground loving birds; seeds are food for birds and small mammals.
Propagation: By division in spring or by seed.