Species Northern Meadow Sedge
brown-lime spikelets with green foliage and stems

Northern Meadow Sedge

Carex praticola

Also Known As - Meadow Sedge
Northern Meadow Sedge (Carex praticola) is a perennial sedge with a wide range of habitats. It generally grows in well-drained soils in sunny meadows or grasslands, tolerating occasional flooding. Its robust clumps of dark green yet richly textured foliage reach heights of up to two feet, and when in bloom, its emerald-hued flowers can be seen easily. Each stem is topped with long, dense panicles of creamy-white flowers, adding to the aesthetic. The Northern Meadow Sedge is exceptionally tolerant of a variety of environmental conditions and is often considered a good choice for areas with difficult growing conditions.

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Seed Propagation,Cutting,Root Division

Hardiness Zone:

Flowers:

Green/Brown Flowers

Sun:

Sun

Soil:

Sand

Fruits:

brown Fruits Ready In Fall

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

watering

Northern Meadow Sedge is a low-maintenance and drought tolerant plant species. It should be watered deeply but infrequently. During the growing season of March through August, it should be watered once a week, to a depth of at least 4 inches (10 cm). If temperatures are high and evaporation is high, an extra watering may be necessary. During the dormant season from September through February, watering is not necessary unless there is an unusually long drought. The soil should be allowed to dry out completely before watering. Over-watering can cause plants to rot.

sunlight

Northern Meadow Sedge enjoys full sun or partial shade. For optimum growth, it needs at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. It’s best to provide this plant with afternoon shade, especially during the hot summer months. During cooler fall and winter months, it will thrive in more direct sunlight for longer periods. It’s also a good idea to provide Northern Meadow Sedge with a little shade, even during these cooler months, to prevent it from becoming stressed.

pruning

Northern Meadow Sedge should be pruned once a year during the spring or early summer months. Pruning should remove any dead or damaged foliage, as well as any low-growing foliage in order to encourage the plant to produce more upright foliage. Pruning should also focus on removing any overcrowded stems in order to encourage good air circulation throughout the plant. The removal of any stems growing too tall can also help to reduce the overall height of the plant in order to keep it in a visually pleasing shape. When pruning, care should be taken to avoid any unnecessary removal of foliage. When pruning is complete, it is important to reduce the remaining stems to a maximum of 10 inches in height, if necessary.

Season

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

Northern Meadow Sedge typically starts flowering in May.

Harvest Fruit

The best time to start harvesting the fruits from Carex praticola is typically in late June or early July.