Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pennsylvanica
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-8b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Evergreen Perennial
Height at Maturity: 8-10″
Width at Maturity: 8-10″
Spacing: 10″ for mass plantings
Spacing: 10″ for mass plantings
Growth Habit / Form: Upright, Arching
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Greenish White often tinged with Reddish-Purple
Flower Size: Small
Flowering Period: Late Spring
Flower Type: Spikelet
Fragrant Flowers:
Foliage Color: Bright Green
Fragrant Foliage:
Sun Needs: Part Shade to Heavy Shade (Requires consistently moist soil in Full Sun)
Water Needs: Average, low when established
Soil Type: Amended Clay, Loam, Sandy, Silty
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained to Dry when established
Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.5
Maintenance / Care: Low
Attracts:
Resistances: Deer – more info, Disease, Dry Soil, Heavy Shade, Insect
Description
A North American native plant that forms a lush green carpet and prefers life on the shady side, the Pennsylvania Sedge is a lovely grass-like plant for use in landscape beds or in containers that can be situated outdoors or indoors as a houseplant. A perfect choice for a groundcover or border in dry and partially shaded to heavy shade areas, such as under large trees and decks, and is an excellent lawn alternative. In cooler climates it will tolerate full sun with sufficient moisture. This ornamental grass forms an arching mounded tuff of slender deep green leaves to about 10 to 12 inches tall and wide. Late spring brings spikelets of greenish white flowers. This petite beauty is a great pollinator plant, hosting and supporting several caterpillar species and provides shelter and the perfect nesting material for birds.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing 8 to 10 inches tall and wide, Pennsylvania Sedge is ideal for use as a low-maintenance groundcover in landscape borders or as a border along paths, walkways or patios and other sitting areas, or low-maintenance lawn alternative in partial to heavy shade, meaning it will grow under shade trees, tall decks and other structures where not many other plants will grow. Also serves as a nice grassy texture in mixed container gardens. A fine addition to native gardens, ornamental grass gardens, pollinator gardens and the Xeriscape (low water needs)
Growing Preferences
Pennsylvania Sedge is very easy to grow in a moist but well drained to dry moist to dry soil in part to heavy shade. That said, plants will tolerate sun in cooler climates provided there is sufficient moisture. Can be mowed in early spring if desired.
Helpful Articles
Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, fertilize, prune and water Carex plants.
How To Plant And Care For Carex Plants
How To Measure Total Square Feet Of A Planting Area
How Many Plants Needed To Cover A Planting Area?
Plant Long & Prosper!
Meet the Wilson Brothers & Staff
Questions? Contact Us!























Reviews
There are no reviews yet.