Carex appalachica-Appalachian Sedge

Carex appalachica is native to the dry woods of eastern North America. Its fine texture and fountaining habit make it a lovely groundcover in dry shady sites, even in the root zone of trees. Its tidy clumping habit makes it a perfect feature in a container, rock or stump, or in a border planting along a walkway.

Fine-textured Carex appalachica is native to woodlands in the U.S. from Maine to South Carolina and east to Kentucky, where it is considered endangered. Appalachian Sedge is a true clump grower. Its narrow foot-long foliage lies in a sweeping mound six inches from the ground. When planted in masses or on slopes, the weeping foliage appears to curve, swirl and intermingle in a beautiful display of motion. Carex appalachica makes a great low-maintenance lawn substitute as it will grow under many conditions, as long as it is planted in dry to average soil. Appalachian Sedge does best with some shade, particularly in warmer regions.

Benefits

• Thrives in partial or full shade
• Its fine texture adds airy movement in the garden
• Tenacious roots help prevent erosion
• Early bloom is a nectar bonus for native insects
• Seed is plentiful and a delicacy for birds
• Easy to grow and tolerant of many soil types