Carex stricta

Common Names

Tussock Sedge, Upright Sedge, Uptight Sedge

Summary

An upright, rhizomatous sedge native to wetlands of eastern and central North America, it forms dense tussocks and grows about 50–150 cm tall with acutely angled, scabrous culms and blue-green arching leaves. Basal leaf sheaths are red-brown and blades 4–6 mm wide; the inflorescence bears erect spikes with both staminate and pistillate flowers, fruiting May–June into pale brown perigynia enclosing small achenes. Common in marshes, bogs, wet meadows, and shores across a broad range, it is widely considered the most common wetland sedge in eastern North America.

Preferring full sun to partial shade, it occupies moist to wet soils and tolerates shallow standing water and seasonal flooding. Hardiness zones 3–8; deer-resistant and low-maintenance, it propagates mainly by division (seed propagation is slower). Practical uses include erosion control, bioswales, rain gardens, pond and shoreline plantings, and wildlife habitat enhancement.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1-5 feet

Spread

1-2 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Wet, consistently moist hydric soils (wetlands, marshes and bogs)

Soil Drainage

Moist to wet, poorly drained soils

Soil pH

6.5, acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

Green, Brown

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Blue-green, Green, Straw color, Straw-like color, Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Rhizomes (vegetative propagation)

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds, butterflies, and other pollinators