Growing Pennsylvania Sedge: A No-Fuss, Reliable Native Plant

As my collection of native plants grows, I’m developing various favorites. One of them is Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica), a sweet, compact native perennial that offers a wispy texture to a garden, is a host plant for butterflies and moths, and can be used to replace a traditional lawn. In this article, I’m going to share some growing tips, as well as ideas on where to plant Pennsylvania sedge.

Although its name suggests it is solely native to one state, Pennsylvania sedge is native to various parts of North America, predominantly in the east and in some central states. It is hardy down to USDA hardiness zone 3, which are areas that see temperatures dip between -40°F and -30°F (-40°C to -34.4°C). In Canada, that native range reaches across the southern parts of the country, from British Columbia and Alberta through Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. In the United States, the plant covers a vast area—all the states in the Northeast, as well as parts of the Midwest and a small handful in the South.

Also called oak sedge because it’s often found growing under oak trees, other common names include early sedge and yellow sedge. This compact little plant really will fit into any empty space in the garden. The wispy nature of Pennsylvania sedge adds texture and complements other plants around it. The plant does spread by rhizomes, so there may be some work involved to contain it. If you happen to find a little clump coming up near the plant, simply dig it up and transplant it to another part of the garden.

Even though it has a little bit of height (it grows to be about six to 12 inches/15