Palm sedge is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial in the sedge family (Cyperaceae) native to the upper midwestern US and Canada. The species epithet is the Latinized reference to its native locality, the Muskingum River, a tributary of the Ohio River, in southeastern Ohio. Palm sedge is a denizen of wet, deciduous flood plains, thickets and wooded lowlands, which provides a clue to its horticultural needs: a moist to wet site in sun or partial shade. It grows well on acid, humus-rich or sandy soils, as long as they are moist. This plant can grow in shallow water. This is a large sedge, grown primarily for its foliage, but the upright, brown, catkin-like spikelets add interest and attract seed-eating birds. Unlike most sedges that are rosette or tuft plants, palm sedge produces tall, upright stems that are clad with leaves from top to bottom. The plants may be cut to the ground in late winter to show off the new growth in spring. Palm sedge spreads slowly by rhizomes. Grow palm sedge in a rain garden, or a riparian setting in a woodland or wildlife garden. This plant is good for a pond border or in beds as a groundcover. It can be grown in a container as long as the container does not dry out. 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.
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Clumping; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
medium green, narrow, tapered leaves
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Insignificant
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit value
Good Dried; Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Stem detail
upright stems;
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
E. Canada to E. Central 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.