Carex albicans

Common Names

White-Tinged Sedge, Whitetinge Sedge, Oak Sedge

Summary

Carex albicans, commonly called White-tinged sedge, is a North American perennial sedge native from Quebec and Ontario south to Florida and Texas, it forms dense, mounded tufts of narrow, arching bright green leaves and grows about 12–18 inches tall and 18–24 inches wide, in late spring it bears green to tan flower spikes with white margins, and it slowly spreads by underground rhizomes to form colonies, providing year-round foliage with a fine texture, deer-resistant and drought-tolerant, it suits dry upland woods and shaded woodlands as a subtle ground cover, for cultivation, plant in groups or mass for foliage effect and as a ground cover or lawn substitute in shady landscapes, it tolerates light to moderate sun to shade and soils from dry to moist, with a preference for well-drained sites, space plants 12–18 inches apart and expect slow rhizome spreading, while self-seeding can occur under optimal conditions, spread is not aggressive, its versatility and low maintenance make it suitable for erosion control and naturalized plantings in native-inspired borders, woodland edges, and shade gardens, and it is hardy in USDA zones 4–8

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

12-18 inches

Spread

12-18 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Moderately acidic to neutral pH, No specific ideal pH; broad tolerance from acidic to basic soils

Bloom Color

Green

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green (can appear yellowish-green in shade)

Leaf Lifecycle

Semi-deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow-growing; spreads slowly via underground rhizomes to form colonies.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Cuttings, Layering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds