Blue sedge is an attractive herbaceous perennial in the sedge family (Cyperaceae). It is native to the Southeast, where it occurs along pond or stream margins, in bogs, swamps, ditches, wet meadows, and in seasonally wet areas. The species epithet is Latin and means “having a waxy or powdery coating on the surface that gives a bluish cast.” The bluish cast is especially noticeable on the flask-like uritcles that enclose the ripening fruits. Due to the high moisture needs of this sedge, it should be planted in light shade on a consistently moist site. It does best in acidic, humus-rich or peaty soils. If grown along a pond margin where moisture is always present, it can grow in full sun. Blue sedge is a large sedge, elegant when in flower or fruit. The inflorescence bears a few pendulous spikes in late spring or early summer. The spikes mature and turn brown. While the fruits are not widely eaten by wildlife, this erect segge is used for cover. To propagate, divide the rootball or collect seeds from seedheads that have dried on the plant. This is a plant for a native or rain garden, or along the margin of a permanent pond. It can serve as a border, accent or ground cover. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. More information on Carex .
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.
Herbaceous Perennial; Native Plant; Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Life cycle
Perennial
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Frequent Standing Water | Moist | Occasional Flooding
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Sheath; Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf feel
Papery
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Flower color
Green
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Blooms from May to June.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Brown pendulous, pistillate spikes bloom late spring to early summer with yellowish, smooth glaucous fruits developing in late summer.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
SE. U.S.A. to Texas
Wildlife value
While the fruits are not widely eaten by wildlife, occasionally used for cover. This plant supports larvae of certain satyrine butterflies (Nymphalidae-Satyrinae).
Attracts
Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Pond; Pool/Hardscape
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Native Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rain Garden; Water Garden