Carex muskingumensis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KAY-reks mus-kin-gyoo-MEN-sis
- Description
-
Palm sedge is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial in the sedge family (Cyperaceae) native to the upper midwestern US and Canada. The species epithet is the Latinized reference to its native locality, the Muskingum River, a tributary of the Ohio River, in southeastern Ohio.
Palm sedge is a denizen of wet, deciduous flood plains, thickets and wooded lowlands, which provides a clue to its horticultural needs: a moist to wet site in sun or partial shade. It grows well on acid, humus-rich or sandy soils, as long as they are moist. This plant can grow in shallow water.
This is a large sedge, grown primarily for its foliage, but the upright, brown, catkin-like spikelets add interest and attract seed-eating birds. Unlike most sedges that are rosette or tuft plants, palm sedge produces tall, upright stems that are clad with leaves from top to bottom. The plants may be cut to the ground in late winter to show off the new growth in spring. Palm sedge spreads slowly by rhizomes.
Grow palm sedge in a rain garden, or a riparian setting in a woodland or wildlife garden. This plant is good for a pond border or in beds as a groundcover. It can be grown in a container as long as the container does not dry out.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Oehme'
only 1 to 2 feet tall; leaves with yellow margins.
- 'Oehme'
- 'Oehme'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Oehme'
only 1 to 2 feet tall; leaves with yellow margins.
- 'Oehme'
- 'Oehme'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Carex
- Species:
- muskingumensis
- Family:
- Cyperaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- E. Canada to E. Central 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.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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 Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
-
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- medium green, narrow, tapered leaves
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- upright stems;
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Rock Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Wet Soil
