Species Carey's Sedge

Carey's Sedge

Carex careyana

Carey's Sedge (Carex careyana) is an attractive, upright wetland plant native to the northern areas of North America. It features gracefully arching, bright green, 4-angled stems which reach up to 2 feet tall, topped with a clump of narrow blade-like leaves. With its easy-to-grow habit and superior resistance to most disease and insect pests, Carey's Sedge is an ideal choice for a variety of moisture-retaining locations, such as ditches, ponds, and marshes. The flowers, which appear from late spring and mid-summer, are tiny and inconspicuous, followed by light brown seed heads. This species provides food for numerous wetland creatures, and its rhizomes are a great addition to wetland restoration projects.

Watering:

Minimal

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

This Hair-Like Sedge is a low maintenance groundcover grass that should be watered only when its soil is completely dry to the touch. During the active growing season (May-August) it should be watered 1-2 times per week, providing roughly 1-2 inches of water each time. During the winter it should be watered every 4-6 weeks, providing roughly 1 inch of water each time. During periods of extreme heat or drought, water more often. It's important to water at the base of the plant, avoiding wetting the foliage.

sunlight

Hair-Like Sedge prefers full sun or at least 8 hours of sunlight each day. It is best to plant it in an area that gets the most sunlight, as this will help the plant to thrive. It should also be protected from strong winds and excessive shade. During the summer months, the Sedge should be watered regularly and dead flower heads should be removed to encourage more blooms. In the winter, it will need to be covered or mulched with a thick layer of straw.

pruning

Hair-Like Sedge should be pruned regularly to keep it in optimal shape. If left untrimmed, it can become leggy and lanky. Pruning should be done in the early spring before new growth appears. This will allow new growth to be triggered and also reduce the plant’s overall size. Aim to remove any dead, damaged, or excessively long foliage annually. If necessary, lightly trim the foliage to retain a tidy bushy shape. Pruning should be done carefully to avoid damaging any of the stems or foliage.

⚠️ Perenual and its members cannot be held liable for any health issues that may arise from the information provided on the website or from using any of the plants found on the site. The information provided is intended to be used as general guidelines only.