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Native alternative(s) for Carex plantaginea:
Carex glaucescens Carex glaucescens
Carex grayi Gray’s Sedge
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Carex flaccosperma Form
Carex lupulina Form
Carex platyphylla Form

Sedges Carex plantaginea

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Sedges:

Phonetic Spelling
KAY-reks plan-tag-IH-nee-uh
Description

A sedge in the Cyperaceae family.  Leaves resemble the common weed Plantago lanceolata.  Tolerates wet planting sites and presents a striking pleated texture complementing shade and woodland native flowers.  This plant is shade tolerant, the leaves brown in the sun no matter how much water is dispersed.  

Form:  Tufted

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#NC native#herbaceous perennial#pollinator plant#native ornamental grass#larval host plant#native sedge#wet soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#HS302#Audubon#various satyr butterfly#wildlife friendly#collier preserve tn
 
Carex plantaginea
Form Jay Turner CC BY 2.0
Carex plantaginea
Works well as a groundcover. Tom Potterfield CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Carex plantaginea
Leaf looks similar to plaintain. Jason Hollinger CC BY 2.0
Carex plantaginea
Flowers Kristine Paulus CC BY 2.0
Form - Summer - Wake Co., NC
Form - Summer - Wake Co., NC Cathy DeWitt CC BY 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#NC native#herbaceous perennial#pollinator plant#native ornamental grass#larval host plant#native sedge#wet soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#HS302#Audubon#various satyr butterfly#wildlife friendly#collier preserve tn
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Carex
    Species:
    plantaginea
    Family:
    Cyperaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Native to North America
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant supports various Satyr larvae.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Moist
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Description:
    Flowers early spring to early summer
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Purple-sheathed, light green leaves
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Naturalized Area
    Riparian
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Wet Soil