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Carex blanda
Woodland Sedge
Carex blanda, also known as Woodland sedge, is a clumping cool-season sedge found in part shade environments. Carex blanda is an excellent groundcover with shiny, evergreen foliage that arches gracefully at 1' tall. Woodland sedge blooms in the spring, with small silver flowers which turn into small achenes of seeds. Carex blanda is unpalatable to deer and other herbivores, and is drought tolerant once established. Woodland sedge is a host plant of the Appalachian brown and Eyed brown butterflies, and various birds and squirrels eat their seeds.
- » Clumping
- » Cool season
- » Drought tolerant
- » Host plant to the Appalachian brown and the Eyed brown butterflies
Plant Characteristics
Additional Information
| Height | 12-24 in |
| Hardiness Zone | 3-9 |
A true opportunist, Carex blanda is a classic pioneer species and an excellent plant for filling in a variety of ecological niches. Carex blanda can grow in partial shade or even sunny environments, with dry to wet soil depending on the amount of sun. As an opportunist, they are not particular about their soil type — happily growing among clay/loam to rocky soils. They can grow within compacted or disturbed soils and are an excellent erosion control for dry grounds that require a tough plant. This is a clumping Carex and competes well against other aggressive species. Turkey, grouse, woodcock, and songbirds are known to eat their seed.