Carex lurida

Common Names

Lurid Sedge, Sallow Sedge, Shallow Sedge

Summary

Carex lurida, commonly called Sallow Sedge or Lurid Sedge, is a North American native sedge forming dense tufts from short rhizomes, it features stiff triangular culms up to about 3 feet tall, bright yellow-green foliage on the lower half, and arching leaves along the stem, the inflorescence carries 1 to 4 pistillate spikelets and a single staminate spikelet, pistillate scales have long awns and perigynia are 7 to 8.5 mm long with long beaks, blooming occurs in late spring to early summer, and fruits are 2.0 to 2.5 mm achenes, natural habitats include wetlands such as marshes swales pond and stream edges and ditch banks, it is widely distributed in eastern North America, cultivation emphasizes full sun to partial shade with consistently moist to wet soils, temporary flooding is tolerated, the plant grows about 1 to 3 feet tall and spreads by short rhizomes making it suitable for mass plantings, rain gardens, bioswales, and erosion-control plantings along ponds or streams, it is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9 and supports wildlife-friendly landscapes by stabilizing soil and providing habitat, use includes wetland restoration and naturalistic plantings with best performance in moist conditions

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

12-36 inches

Spread

12-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-9

Sunlight Requirements

Full Sun to Full Shade

Soil Type

Wet, acidic soil (pH 4.6–6.5)

Soil Drainage

Wet to moist soils

Soil pH

6.0-7.5, Acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

Green

Bloom Time

Spring through Fall

Foliage Color

Green to yellow-green

Fall Foliage Color

Brown, Golden brown, Yellow-green, Yellowish (a yellowish cast)

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Birds, Butterflies, Moths