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Three-way Sedge Dulichium arundinaceum var. arundinaceum

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
dyoo-LEE-kee-um a-run-din-uh-KEE-um a-run-din-uh-KEE-um
Description

Threeway Sedge is a native grass-like plant in the sedge (Cyperaceae) family.  It is found in Canada and across much of the U.S.A. along streambanks, bogs, and marshes.

It grows in upright clumps 1-3 feet in height and 1-2 feet wide.  The leaves are ranked in threes when seen from above, giving it the common name of threeway sedge. It blooms July to October with spikes that appear in the axils of the leaves Plant it in full sun to partial shade in moist to wet soils.

This sedge could be used around marshes, bogs, ponds or streams but may be difficult to find for sale.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#water garden#rain garden#sedge#stream banks#NC native#herbaceous perennial#marshes#food source fall#Coastal OBL#Piedmont Mountains OBL#native sedge#wet soils tolerant#food source hard mast fruit#Audubon#wet soils intolerant#perennial#boggy sites
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#water garden#rain garden#sedge#stream banks#NC native#herbaceous perennial#marshes#food source fall#Coastal OBL#Piedmont Mountains OBL#native sedge#wet soils tolerant#food source hard mast fruit#Audubon#wet soils intolerant#perennial#boggy sites
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Dulichium
    Species:
    arundinaceum
    Family:
    Cyperaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Canada, U.S.A.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
    Water Plant
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
  • 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 Drainage:
    Frequent Standing Water
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Gold/Yellow
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Flat linear tan-yellow elliptic achene fruits with 5-9 barbed bristles along the base August to November
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Spike
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Stalked spikes form in the axils of leaf blades with three to ten 1/2 inch to 1 inch flat spikelets around the central stalk. Flower has 2-ranked flower bracts, each with 1 flower in the axil. Blooms from July to October.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Leathery
    Leaf Type:
    Sheath
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    The leaf blade is up to 6 inches long and 0.3 inches wide, flat, non-splitting sheath, green. They are alternate and spiral the stem in threes (three ranked).
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Description:
    Stem cylindric to slightly angular and hollow.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Pond
    Riparian
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Rain Garden
    Water Garden
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Wet Soil