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Carex pensylvanica - Lam.

Common Name Pennsylvania sedge
Family Cyperaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats A shade-loving perennial sedge that is native to thickets and dry woodland areas. dry to mesic upland forests and shaded bluff ledges. It typically grows in loose colonies with a creeping habit. Roots are reddish brown. It is often found in areas with oak trees, hence the additional common name of oak sedge [368-1].
Range Native to North America, especially eastern Canada and the eastern United States.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Carex pensylvanica Pennsylvania sedge


edibleplants.org
Carex pensylvanica Pennsylvania sedge
Jay Sturner wikimedia.org

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
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

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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

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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).

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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 it’s worth checking.

None Known

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 aquatilisWater sedge, Sitka sedgePerennial1.0 3-7  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 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.

 

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