Squarrose Sedge is a native wetland grass that transforms marshy margins and rain gardens with its distinctive thimble-shaped seedheads, which persist throughout the growing season from April through September. Hardy in zones 4 through 6, this sedge reaches 18 to 24 inches tall and spreads 12 to 24 inches wide, thriving in the moist to wet soils where most ornamental grasses struggle. Found naturally in eastern Missouri's swampy meadows, flood plains, and wet prairies, Carex squarrosa offers both visual interest and ecological value, providing food and shelter for songbirds, waterfowl, and countless invertebrates.
Partial Sun
Moderate
4-6
24in H x 24in W
—
Low
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The showy seedheads are the real star here, holding their distinctive thimble shape all summer long even as the narrow, grass-like foliage reaches toward 2 feet. This sedge actively thrives in conditions that challenge other plants: flooded soils, wet meadows, and boggy spots where standing water won't kill it. Deer leave it untouched, and the whole plant works tirelessly to stabilize eroding banks while feeding wildlife from songbirds to waterfowl like mallards and soras.
Squarrose Sedge excels in rain gardens and water gardens where its wet-soil tolerance becomes an asset rather than a limitation. Use it along lake margins, pond edges, and wetland restoration projects where it stabilizes soil against erosion while creating habitat. In designed landscapes, it softens hardscapes near water features and adds seasonal texture to otherwise bare boggy areas.
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