Carex geyeri

Common Names

Geyer's Sedge, Elk Sedge, Elk Grass, Pine Sedge

Summary

Geyer's sedge is a native upland sedge with a rhizomatous growth form and evergreen leaves 1–3 mm wide, reaching about 6–12 inches tall. It inhabits dry montane forests and woodlands, open slopes, and dry meadows on well-drained sandy, gravelly, or rocky soils at elevations roughly 800–3,300 m, with a western North American distribution including British Columbia and Alberta in Canada and Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming in the United States.

For cultivation, it prefers well-drained soils, tolerates drought, and grows in full sun to partial shade; propagation is by sprigs or bare root, with seed propagation not used. Practical uses include soil stabilization and erosion control, drought tolerance, and rehabilitation after disturbance; its fire-adapted nature allows rapid recolonization after fire and it provides forage for elk.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

4-20 inches

Spread

4.5 feet

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained sandy, gravelly, or rocky soils

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soils

Soil pH

6.0-7.7, acidic to slightly alkaline soils

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous, Evergreen, Other

Growth Rate

Slow

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, other pollinators, and birds