Mace Sedge Carex grayi
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KAY-reks GRAY-eye
- Description
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Gray’s sedge is a native herbaceous perennial in the sedge family (Cyperaceae) native to the eastern half of North America. It was named after famed American botanist Asa Gray (1810–1888).
Gray’s sedge grows best in full sun but will tolerate light shade. Either way, the plant needs adequate moisture at all times. It dislikes drying out. It prefers the wet soils of floodplains, swamps and bottomland forests. The plant propagates by seeds in the fall or by division in the spring.
This is a low-maintenance sedge. The spikey seed heads are a wonderful pale green and have a long bloom time, from spring to fall. They are attractive in both fresh and dried flower arrangements. Dried fruits on the plant they add winter interest to the garden. The plants provide cover and forage for wildlife.
It makes an excellent addition to a rain garden, the native garden or a winter garden. It has presence in the landscape when planted in large groups, but it can be used as an accent in the border. It can also be grown in containers.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No insect or disease problems. It does not perform well in dry soils.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Carex
- Species:
- grayi
- Family:
- Cyperacea
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- E. Canada to N. Central & E. 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.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer resistance
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 5 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- 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:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Good Dried
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- It has a long bloom time from spring to fall producing greenish yellow to brown seed heads that look like spiked clubs and are attractive in both fresh and dried flower arrangements. If the dried fruits remain on the plant they add winter interest to the garden. Displays from June to September
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Blooms from May to June. The inflorescence -- a
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Papery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Erosion
- Wet Soil
