Carex lupulina

• Attributes:

  Genus:

  Carex

  Species:

  lupulina

  Family:

  Cyperaceae

  Life Cycle:

  Perennial

  Country Or Region Of Origin:

  Canada, U.S.A. and Mexico

  Distribution:

  AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: NB , NS , ON , QC

  Wildlife Value:

  This plant supports various Satyr larvae.

• Whole Plant Traits:

  Plant Type:

  Herbaceous Perennial

  Native Plant

  Ornamental Grasses and Sedges

  Habit/Form:

  Clumping

• 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)

  Sand

  Soil Drainage:

  Moist

  Occasionally Wet

  NC Region:

  Coastal

  Mountains

  Piedmont

  USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:

  3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

• Fruit:

  Fruit Color:

  Brown/Copper

  Display/Harvest Time:

  Fall

  Summer

  Fruit Type:

  Achene

  Fruit Length:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Width:

  < 1 inch

  Fruit Description:

  Clusters of achenes are wrapped in a casing (perigynium), subtended by a scale and contain several seeds. Displays from July to October

• Flowers:

  Flower Inflorescence:

  Spike

  Flower Bloom Time:

  Spring

  Summer

  Flower Size:

  < 1 inch

  Flower Description:

  There are separate male and female spikes of flowers. The terminal male spike is about 3 inches long and is surrounded by smaller secondary spikes. Below them are the female spikes that are 3 inches long with lower spikes up to 7 inches long. At the base of each female spike is a leaf-like bract that is 5 to 20 inches long. Blooms from June to September.

• Leaves:

  Leaf Color:

  Green

  Leaf Feel:

  Rough

  Leaf Type:

  Simple

  Leaf Arrangement:

  Alternate

  Leaf Shape:

  Linear

  Leaf Margin:

  Entire

  Hairs Present:

  No

  Leaf Length:

  > 6 inches

  Leaf Width:

  < 1 inch

  Leaf Description:

  Fine-textured narrow, grass-like leaves that are dark green in color. The papery leaf sheaths are U to V-shaped at the tip and loosely wrap the stem.

• Stem:

  Stem Color:

  Brown/Copper

  Green

  Stem Is Aromatic:

  No

  Stem Cross Section:

  Angular

  Stem Description:

  Triangular stems can range in color from green to brown.

• Landscape:

  Landscape Location:

  Pond

  Riparian

  Woodland

  Landscape Theme:

  Butterfly Garden

  Native Garden

  Pollinator Garden

  Rain Garden

  Water Garden

  Design Feature:

  Mass Planting

  Small groups

  Attracts:

  Butterflies

  Pollinators

  Small Mammals

  Songbirds

  Resistance To Challenges:

  Wet Soil