Carex plantaginea - Seersucker Sedge

 Sizes available: 2 quart

Basics: zones 4-8, 6-12" x 12-24", part to full shade, unique flower structure appears early over spring green, quilted leaves, prefers moist woodland soils, but quite drought tolerant once established.

Common names: Seersucker Sedge, Plantain-leaved Sedge

Family: Cyperaceae

Origin/Distribution: Native range is New Brunswick, Canada south to Pennsylvania and west to parts of Illinois and Iowa. Also occurs in higher elevations in Georgia and Alabama. This plant is native to Maine.

Habitat: open woodland, shady moist spots

More: This carex is host to skipper butterflies in the Hesperiidae family. It is also a host plant for the Appalachian Brown, Satyrodes Appalachia, which is at the northernmost part of its range in central Maine and is a species of special concern here. Although Carex species are generally deer and rabbit resistant, I have noticed that this one gets munched in the winter. Since it is an evergreen sedge and the herbivory happens under snow cover, I am thinking voles. But no worry, it bounces back just fine. This sedge has a formal look and works very well in a tailored garden. 

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: Van Berkum Nursery

Image credits: Frank Meuschke of Shelterwood Gardens