Carex bella, commonly known as Showy Sedge, is a perennial herbaceous plant that forms dense tussocks and is native to various habitats including open woodlands, meadows, and grassy slopes in the western United States and Mexico, particularly in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Nuevo Leon. It typically grows to a height of 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) with a similar width, and features narrow, grass-like leaves. The inflorescences are distinctive, with pendent spikes that carry pistillate scales ranging from light to dark brown. The perigynia are smooth and transition from pale green to yellow as they mature, with fruiting occurring between June and August.

Showy Sedge is valued for its low maintenance requirements and its ability to thrive in a variety of soil types, although it prefers moist, well-drained soils. It is often used in naturalistic plantings, rain gardens, and as a ground cover in restoration projects due to its adaptability and attractive foliage. It can tolerate partial shade but grows best in full sun to part shade. While generally disease-free, it can suffer from root rot if planted in overly wet conditions. Showy Sedge is not known for being invasive and does not typically present problems when grown within its native range.CC BY-SA 4.0