Species Elk Sedge
red-green seedheads with yellow-green foliage and stems

Elk Sedge

Carex garberi

Also Known As - Garber's Sedge
Elk Sedge (Carex garberi) is a hardy perennial native to much of North America. It is a native swamp plant often found near wetlands and streams. It can grow up to two feet tall with long tapered leaves and small greenish-brown spikes. Elk sedge prefers moist or wet soils but can tolerate moderate drought. It is a valuable garden plant appreciated for its distinctive texture and flower spikes. Easy to grow and relatively hardy, Elk Sedge is a great addition to any garden. Plant it in an area of your yard that receives full to partial sun and ample moisture for beautiful results.

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Division,Cutting,Seed Propagation,Stolon

Hardiness Zone:

Flowers:

Green/Brown Flowers

Sun:

full sun,part sun/part shade

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Elk Sedge should be watered lightly at regular intervals. Watering should occur early in the morning about twice a week during the active growing season of spring and summer. Watering should be reduced between September and May. Water deeply, so that the soil is moist but not soggy, and then wait until the top inch of soil is dry before watering again.

sunlight

Elk Sedge grows best in wetlands, moist meadows, and prairies, so it is important that it receives plenty of sunshine and/or dappled shade throughout the day. In addition to sunlight, Elk Sedge needs adequate water and soil moisture to flourish. It is best to provide Elk Sedge with direct sunlight for at least 6 hours per day, preferably during the early morning and late evening hours. For optimal growth, this plant species may require more than 6 hours of direct sunlight, depending on the local climate and other environmental factors.

pruning

Elk sedge (Carex garberi) should be pruned once a year in early spring, just before new growth begins. Pruning should be done with sharp, clean scissors, taking care to not damage any new or existing growth. Cut away any dead, diseased, or broken stems, and remove any stems that cross over other stems. For older plants, it’s a good idea to thin the plant by cutting back any stems that are crowding the center of the plant. This will help the plant stay open and vigorous. Elk sedge should not be heavily pruned each year, as this could reduce the amount of flowering stems the plant produces.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Elk Sedge typically starts flowering in May.