Translate this page:

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Carex pensylvanica is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. The flowers are pollinated by Wind, Insects.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

C. pensylvanica var. glumabunda Peck. C. p. var. marginata (Willd.) Dewey. C. p. var. vespertina L.H.Bailey. C. marginata Willd. C. stolonifera Schwein.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

None Known

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

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.

More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Soil stabilization

Capable of colonizing disturbed sites [277]. Groundcover for dry shade. Underplanting for shade perennials. Lawn substitute for dry soils in shady areas (forms a turf that never needs mowing or mow 2-3 times per year to 2" tall). [368-1]. Provides cover for migratory fowl, sandhill cranes, and ducks (who also use the leaves for nesting material). It is also used by sharptail grouse and prairie chickens for nesting, cover, and dancing grounds [277]. Erosion Control. Ornamental: The leaves are soft and fine textured with an arching habit. It can be used as a lawn substitute [368-1]. Tolerant of mowing. Moderate salt tolerance.

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife Food Forest Ground Cover

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Prefers loose loams in dry soils in sun-dappled part shade. Most sedges prefer moist to wet soils, but not this one. Plants spread by rhizomes. Plants may self-seed in optimum growing conditions[368-1]. Soil pH: 4.0 - 8.0. Drought: Tolerant. Flood: Moderate. Salt: Moderate. Soil Compaction: Intolerant. Mowing: Tolerant. Does not compete well with larger plants in full sun. Competes well in moderate to deep shade. Can form dense mats. Makes one of the earliest spring appearances of the Carices. Life Span:Long-Lived Perennial. Stand Persistence:Long. Form: Clump. [368-1]. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread [1-2]. An evergreen. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. The root pattern is clumping, giving the plant a clumping habit. The predictable growth behaviour makes it easier to maintain without having to apply containment methods[2-1].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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

Celsius Fahrenheit:

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Plants spread by rhizomes. Plants may self-seed in optimum growing conditions. This species often does not grow well from seed.[368-1].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Pennsylvania sedge, Penn sedge.Early sedge, Common oak sedge, Yellow sedge, Oak Sedge.

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada, Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, United States, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia,

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 itâ€™s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Carex acutiformis	Swamp Sedge, Lesser pond sedge	Perennial	0.8	0-0		LMH	SN	MWe	1	0
Carex aquatilis	Water sedge, Sitka sedge	Perennial	1.0	3-7		LMH	SN	MWe	1	0
Carex arenaria	Sand Sedge	Perennial	0.5	6-9	F	LM	SN	DM	2	2	2
Carex brizoides		Perennial	0.0	-		LMH	SN	MWe	1	0	1
Carex buxbaumii	Buxbaum's sedge	Perennial	0.6	0-0		LMH	SN	MWe	1	0	1
Carex dispalata		Perennial	0.0	-		LMH	SN	MWe	1	0	1
Carex disticha	Tworank sedge	Perennial	0.5	4-8		LMH	SN	MWe	1	0	1
Carex eburnea	Bristleleaf sedge	Perennial	0.3	2-8	S	LMH	FS	DM	0	0	3
Carex elata	Tufted Sedge, Golden Variegated Sedge, Tufted Sedge	Perennial	1.2	5-9	M	LMH	SN	MWe	2	0	3
Carex hachijoensis	Japanese sedge	Perennial	0.3	5-9	M	LMH	FS	M	0	0	3
Carex hirta	Hammer sedge	Perennial	0.5	5-9		LMH	SN	MWe	1	1	1
Carex kobomugi	Japanese sedge	Perennial	0.2	6-8		LMH	SN	MWe	1	0	2
Carex macrocephala	Largehead sedge	Perennial	0.2	0-0		LMH	SN	MWe	1	0
Carex meyeriana	Sedge, Wu la cao	Perennial	0.5	9-12	F	LMH	FSN	MWe	0	0	4
Carex morrowii	Iwashiba, Japanese Sedge	Perennial	0.6	5-9	F	LMH	FSN	M	0	0	4
Carex nebrascensis	Nebraska sedge	Perennial	0.5	0-0		LMH	SN	M	0	0
Carex nubigena		Perennial	0.0	-		LMH	SN	MWe	1	1
Carex paniculata		Perennial	1.5	6-9		LMH	SN	MWe	1	0	1
Carex riparia	Great Pond Sedge	Perennial	1.5	5-9	F	LMH	SN	MWe	1	0	1
Carex rostrata	Beaded Sedge, Beaked sedge	Perennial	1.0	0-0		LMH	SN	MWe	1	0	1
Carex sylvatica	Wood sedge	Perennial	0.6	3-8	F	MH	SN	MWe	0	0	3
Carex utriculata	Sedge, Northwest territory sedge	Perennial	1.2	0-0		LMH	SN	WeWa	2	0

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.

Carex pensylvanica - Lam.