Sallow Sedge Carex lurida
Previously known as:
- Carex tentaculata
- Phonetic Spelling
- KAY-reks LUR-ih-dah
- Description
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Sallow sedge is a native herbaceous perennial in the carex family (Cyperaceae) that has a broad distribution in wetlands across eastern North America (including eastern Mexico), parts of the Caribbean, and northern South America. The species epithet is the Latin word for a color that is usually described as muddy or dirty yellow and likely refers to the color of the fruits as they dry.
Sallow sedge is a sun-lover, but it will tolerate partial shade. It needs plenty of moisture. It is unfussy about soil type, as long as it is moist. This species looks good and keeps growing even in mid-summer, when many of the cool-season sedges go dormant.
It is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial with bright green leaves that grow to a maximum height of 3 feet. The yellowish fruiting spikelets are prominent and showy and attract seed-eating wildlife. This plant is resistant to browsing by deer.
This is a great sedge for a pond margin or riparian site, in a native plant garden or woodland garden. It can even grow in shallow standing water. It is an ideal candidate for a rain garden.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.
- 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:
- lurida
- Family:
- Cyperaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America, Dominica Republic & northern South America.
- Distribution:
- Maine to Minnesota; Texas to Florida.
- 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.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Dense
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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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:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Insignificant
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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:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Riparian
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Storm damage
- Wet Soil
