Cherokee Sedge Carex cherokeensis

Cherokee sedge is a native herbaceous perennial in the sedge family (Cyperaceae) that is usually found growing along the edges of woodlands in moist sites from North Carolina south to Florida and west to Texas. The species epithet means “of [a place called] Cherokee,” but which Cherokee (there are many geographic areas, counties and townships with that name in the Southeast) was not specified by the author.

This sedge will grow one to two feet tall with a similar spread and prefers partial sun to shade and moist to wet soil, but it is adaptable to full sun and average garden soils if irrigated during dry spells. Sedges should never be cut down to the ground, but dead leaves may be removed in spring by combing your fingers through the foliage. Propagation is by seed or division.

Cherokee sedge blooms in spring and is followed by attractive, drooping seedheads. The arching evergreen to semi-evergreen grass-like foliage is attractive all season. It is a tough plant that is resistant to heat, wet soil and browsing by deer.

It slowly increases its clump size over time by rhizomes, making it a well-behaved sedge to use in perennial gardens. Its diminutive size makes it ideal as a front-of-border planting or tucked into any small garden space. Mass plant it as a groundcover, for erosion control or lawn replacement. Use it for edging along a walkway or to add a fine airy accent around ponds, bogs and stream banks. It can also be used in rain gardens and woodland gardens.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No significant problems.

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