Meadow sedge is a native herbaceous perennial in the sedge family (Cyperaceae). It is found in the central and southeastern parts of the US, from Virginia to Kansas and Texas to Florida, in forests and low-lying areas with well-drained soil. The species epithet is compounded from the Greek meaning “thin seed.” Meadow sedge prefers dappled to partial shade and moist, acidic soil rich in organic matter. It likes constant moisture and does not want to dry out. Some individuals have a slight bluish iridescence that is best appreciated in diffuse, low light. Use this plant in rock gardens, shady borders or woodlands. It makes an excellent ground cover when planted en masse. It is a good plant for stream or pond margins. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. More information on Carex .
Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗Reconciled to full toolbox: matched by slug to slug 'carex-flaccosperma'. Identity (id/common/scientific name) preserved from the original 87-plant Hunnicutt set; attribute data refreshed from the 47-attribute toolbox scrape.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Ground Cover; Herbaceous Perennial; Native Plant; Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Mounding
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Sheath; Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Flower color
Green; White
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower detail
Blooms from May to June
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Displays from June to July.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Central and southeastern U.S.A.
Wildlife value
This plant supports larvae of certain satyrine butterflies (Nymphalidae-Satyrinae). Birds and small mammals consume the achenes and use the plants for cover.