Species Tahoe Sedge
brown spikelets with yellow-green foliage and stems

Tahoe Sedge

Carex tahoensis

Also Known As - Lake Tahoe Sedge
Tahoe Sedge is a native California marsh plant species found in moist, grassy meadows and lightly forested wetlands. It is a perennial species with flower heads held up to one foot high on slender, erect stems. Its greenish-brown and yellow-brown flower spikelets have an egg-shaped bract, which hides the additional flower clusters. The leaves are narrow, sharp, and typically grow 1-2 feet in length. During the summer, its mat-forming habit provides excellent food sources, including nectar, for pollinators. The Tahoe Sedge plays a critical role in preventing soil erosion, making it an important part of any wetland restoration.

Watering:

Minimal

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Easy

watering

Water your Many Headed Sedge deeply once a week, soaking the soil to a depth of about 6 inches. Adjust watering schedule depending on rainfall or dry spells as over-watering can be harmful to the plant. Water during the morning hours to prevent the leaves from being wet overnight when humidity is higher. In cooler climates, water more often during the growing season, approximately every 4-6 days. In hot climates, water every 3-5 days. During dormancy, reduce watering to once every 2 weeks or allow the ground to dry out completely.

sunlight

Many Headed Sedge requires moderate amounts of sunlight and does best when it's exposed to full sunlight for 4-6 hours a day. It can also tolerate partial shade, but needsn some protection from intense afternoon sunlight and strong winds. It will thrive in lightly moist, well-drained soil that is slightly acid to neutral in pH. The species is most actively growing during the warmer months from spring to fall but will appreciate a little extra warmth for vigorous growth.

pruning

For best results, Headed Sedge should be pruned twice a year. Pruning in early Spring, just before new growth begins, helps to encourage dense growth. Prune the plant back by about a quarter or 1 third of its height and remove any dead or damaged foliage. It should then be pruned again in early Summer. This time cut the foliage back to the desired shape, leaving about 4” (10 cm) of foliage. This will help keep the plant healthy and prevent it from becoming straggly. After the second pruning, it’s best to avoid further pruning as this will reduce the number of shoots on the plant and its overall vigor.

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