Pennsylvania Sedge

Carex pensylvanica

Cyperaceae

Growth Habit

Grass/Sedge

Wildlife Value

A number of insect feed on Pennsylvania sedge, including leafhoppers (Cosmotettix delector), aphids (Iziphya albipes), and several species of grasshopper (Arphia pseudonietana, Orphuella speciosa, Trachyrhachys kiowa). Sedge seeds are eaten by a variety of birds and small rodents.

Location

Bald Hill and Caroline Pinnacles, Edwards Lake Cliffs Preserve, Fall Creek Gorge, Ringwood Ponds, Mundy Wildflower Garden

Cultivation

A 6-12" tall sedge with soft, arching leaves and purplish inflorescences in late spring.

Light: part to full shade

Moisture and Soil: dry to medium, well-drained soil, prefers dry, loose loam in dappled shade.

Description

Stems (1-)2-5cm, tufted in small to large, basally fibrilose clumps and also with long rhizomes; leaves 1-3mm wide, shorter than the stems in tall plants; staminate spike terminal, 1-2.5cm; pistillate spikes 1-3, sessile or short-pedunculate and loosly ascending, borne fairly close to each other and to the staminate spike, but not closely crowded, typically short-oblong, up to about 1.5cm; lowest bract 1-3cm, +/-leafy, surpassed by the staminate spike; pistillate scales castaneous to stramineous, longer or shorter than the perigynia; perigynia 2.6-4.5mm, short-hairy, 2-keeled and with several evident to obscure facial nerves, the body subglobose above the contracted base, abruptly prolonged into the sharply bidentate beak 0.2-1mm; achene rounded-triogonous.

Source of plant

North Creek Nurseries, Gary's Perennials, LLC, North Creek Nurseries, Bluebird Nursery Inc.

USDA Hardiness Zone

3