Clustered Field Sedge is a native, cool-season, sod-forming perennial sedge with grass-like leaves that grows 1-2 feet tall and wide. It blooms from May to September with small yellow flowers and spreads through stout black rhizomes. It is useful in many landscape situations as a lawn substitute and does well on banks, slopes, and near streams and ponds if given some sun. It provides good bird habitat when left un-mowed. Clustered Field Sedge requires full sun to part shade and any well-drained soil, and needs regular water in winter/spring but can be summer dry.

1. Clustered Field Sedge (Dune Sedge) – Carex praegracilis (CARE-ex pre-GRASS-ill-iss)
Family: Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)
Native to: Much of mid-western and western Northern Hemisphere to S. America, including most of
CA; wet places, often alkali, including meadows, streamsides, floodplains and other moist areas.
Growth characteristics: sod-forming sedge mature height: 1-2 ft. mature width: 1-2 ft.
Cool-season sod-forming perennial sedge. Leaves slender, grass-like, from stout black rhizomes.
Moderate growth/spread rate and long lifespan.
Blooms/fruits: Blooms May-Sept. Flowers small, yellow on short stalks.
Uses in the garden: Usefully in many landscape situations. Good as a lawn substitute that’s mowed
occasionally or left natural. Fine on banks, slopes and near streams & ponds. Does ok under trees
if gets some sun. Nice-looking dark-green color & wavy texture. Mix with perennials for a native
meadow. May sometimes be labeled as Carex pansa (CA Meadow Sedge: very similar species).
Sensible substitute for: Non-native lawn grasses.
Attracts: Good bird habitat if left un-mowed: provides cover and seeds for food.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun to part-shade
Soil Any local texture, pH
Water Needs rain/regular water in winter/spring; regular/occasional summer water will
keep it green; can be summer dry – will turn golden-tan
Fertilizer none
Other
Management: Can be mowed occasionally if desired – cut high (4-6 inches). Will spread and
eventually form a dense, hardy ‘lawn’.
Propagation: from seed: possible in fall (in prepared ground or pots) by divisions: in fall/winter;
easy
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 3, 8, 13, 20, 21, 24 1/18/15
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