Carex appalachica - Appalachian Sedge

Sizes available: HPP 1 quart

Basics: zones 3-8, 8-12" x 12", part to full shade, but with consistent moisture can do well in a sunnier spot, tiny and subtle green flower in mid-spring, in shade it is very drought tolerant, wants good drainage

Common names: Appalachian Sedge

Family: Cyperaceae

Origin/Distribution: eastern North America, native to Maine

Habitat: Occurs in dry, temperate forest - both deciduous and mixed deciduous/evergreen, rocky, open woods, rock outcrops, woodland slopes, sometimes associated with hemlocks and in high, dry areas with maple, oak or beech.

More: Larval host for various skipper and satyr butterfly species. Sedges are excellent cover and habitat for numerous invertebrates, small mammals and ground-nesting birds. C. appalachia is deer, rabbit, and juglone resistant. It has a formal look and is good for ground cover under shrubs and deciduous trees. Cut back in late winter prior to the onset of new growth.

Even more: If I could talk more gardeners into filling their spaces with Carex species, I would consider my life well lived. They are an excellent ground cover layer and there are species for every conceivable light and moisture condition. Some of them also make good lawn alternatives. They can be planted under trees, shrubs, and taller herbaceous layers, acting as living mulch, retaining moisture and suppressing weeds and looking good doing it. They offer top notch habitat for wildlife, providing shelter and food for birds, small mammals, and invertebrates, and acting as larval hosts for numerous species. Their fibrous root systems are good at holding banks, slopes, and edges. For the most part they are deer and rabbit resistant. And last but not least, they provide structural backbone - variations in texture, color, and rhythm - to your ornamental beds. 

Source: Honey Petal Plants

Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons