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Carex aquatilis - Wahlenb.

Common Name Water sedge, Sitka sedge
Family Cyperaceae
USDA hardiness 3-7
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Margins of lake and streams in mountainous districts in west and northern Britain[17].
Range Northern Europe, including Britain, from Norway to Sweden, Finland, N. Russia and Siberia.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Wet Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Carex aquatilis Water sedge, Sitka sedge


Carex aquatilis Water sedge, Sitka sedge
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Carex aquatilis is an evergreen Perennial growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 1.5 m (5ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. It is in leaf all year, in flower in July, and the seeds ripen from July to August. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Stem bases - raw[257].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Easily grown in a damp to wet soil in full sun or shade[162, 200]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow in situ in the spring in a moist soil in light shade. If seed is in short supply it can be sown in a cold frame and be planted out in the summer. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 6 weeks at 15°c[138]. Division in spring[200]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer or following spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia (southeast)), Russian Federation-Eastern Siberia (Eastern Siberia), Russian Federation (Magadanskaja oblast, Cukotskij avtonomnyj okrug) NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Northwest Territories, Yukon, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Québec, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nunavut, Saskatchewan), St. Pierre and Miquelon, Greenland, United States (Alaska, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho, Montana (west), Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah) EUROPE: Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands, Russian Federation-European part (European part (north & central)), Belarus (north), Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Carex acutiformisSwamp Sedge, Lesser pond sedgePerennial0.8 0-0  LMHSNMWe10 
Carex arenariaSand SedgePerennial0.5 6-9 FLMSNDM222
Carex brizoides Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNMWe101
Carex buxbaumiiBuxbaum's sedgePerennial0.6 0-0  LMHSNMWe101
Carex dispalata Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNMWe101
Carex distichaTworank sedgePerennial0.5 4-8  LMHSNMWe101
Carex eburneaBristleleaf sedgePerennial0.3 2-8 SLMHFSDM003
Carex elataTufted Sedge, Golden Variegated Sedge, Tufted SedgePerennial1.2 5-9 MLMHSNMWe203
Carex hachijoensisJapanese sedgePerennial0.3 5-9 MLMHFSM003
Carex hirtaHammer sedgePerennial0.5 5-9  LMHSNMWe111
Carex kobomugiJapanese sedgePerennial0.2 6-8  LMHSNMWe102
Carex macrocephalaLargehead sedgePerennial0.2 0-0  LMHSNMWe10 
Carex meyerianaSedge, Wu la cao Perennial0.5 9-12 FLMHFSNMWe004
Carex morrowiiIwashiba, Japanese Sedge Perennial0.6 5-9 FLMHFSNM004
Carex nebrascensisNebraska sedgePerennial0.5 0-0  LMHSNM00 
Carex nubigena Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNMWe11 
Carex paniculata Perennial1.5 6-9  LMHSNMWe101
Carex pensylvanicaPennsylvania sedgePerennial0.3 4-8 MLMHFSNDM003
Carex ripariaGreat Pond SedgePerennial1.5 5-9 FLMHSNMWe101
Carex rostrataBeaded Sedge, Beaked sedgePerennial1.0 0-0  LMHSNMWe101
Carex sylvaticaWood sedgePerennial0.6 3-8 FMHSNMWe003
Carex utriculataSedge, Northwest territory sedgePerennial1.2 0-0  LMHSNWeWa20 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Wahlenb.

Botanical References

17

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Subject : Carex aquatilis  
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