Species Payson's Sedge
dark-brown spikelets with beige-green foliage and stems

Payson's Sedge

Carex paysonis

Payson's Sedge is an evergreen grass-like perennial plantnative to wetlands in the Eastern United States. It has long, narrow leaves that form a mounding tuft of grass-like foliage. Its narrow seed heads appear in late spring and have a pale yellow or tan color. This species of Carex is a great choice for a low-maintenance ground cover in woodland gardens, or moist, shady areas. It grows best in acidic, well-drained soils, and benefits from regular watering. Payson's Sedge can withstand occasional flooding and can be divided easily to create a larger patch of growth. Its soft foliage adds bright green texture to any garden.

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Seed Propagation,Cutting

Hardiness Zone:

Flowers:

Red|Green/Brown Flowers In Spring

Sun:

Sun

Leaf:

Yes

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Payson's Sedge prefers moist, but not soggy soil and should be watered deeply and infrequently. During its growing season, which is from late spring to early fall, it should be watered once a week. During hotter and drier periods, it may need to be watered more frequently, about every 3-4 days. In the winter, when the plant is dormant, it should only need watering every 1-2 weeks. It's important to do an occasional deep-soak to ensure water is reaching the plant's roots. Allow the top several inches of soil to dry out before watering again.

sunlight

Payson's Sedge (Carex paysonis) prefers full sunlight and does best when exposed to at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. In shade or partial sun, it may not grow as robustly as it does in full sun. The sun should be available to this plant in the warmer months of the day, as it will benefit from the direct midday sun, while cooler morning and afternoon sun will help to maintain an even temperature for the plant. To ensure strong growth and good health, Payson's Sedge should be placed in an area where it will receive sunlight all year long.

pruning

Payson's Sedge (Carex paysonis) is a native grass that does best with regular pruning. It is best to prune this plant in late summer or early fall. When pruning, remove any dead, broken, or diseased stems and trim the foliage back to just above the soil line for a neat appearance. You can also lightly prune the foliage back to mention 3-4 inches from the top of the plant. This will encourage the plant to produce more new foliage, and make it look fuller. Pruning should only be done when necessary, as it can be stressful for the plant.

Season

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

Payson's Sedge typically starts flowering in May.