Heath Sedge
(Carex flacca)
Heath Sedge (Carex flacca)
/
/
Attila Oláh
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Attila Oláh
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Attila Oláh | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Attila Oláh | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2019-05-23T17:50:49-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Carex flacca, commonly known as Heath Sedge, is an evergreen perennial grass native to a variety of habitats including grasslands, open woodlands, and forest edges across Europe and Western Asia. It typically forms dense clumps reaching 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) in height, with distinctive blue-green leaves that are glaucous beneath. This sedge is valued for its low maintenance and ability to thrive in a range of conditions, making it a versatile choice for gardeners.
Heath Sedge is appreciated for its textural foliage and adaptability, often used as a groundcover or accent plant in gardens, public landscapes, and for erosion control. It is particularly useful in drought-tolerant landscaping due to its ability to cope with dry conditions once established. While it prefers full sun to part shade, Carex flacca is not overly fussy about soil type, tolerating standing, slow, or medium drainage. However, it can spread quite readily, which may be a concern in small garden spaces or where a tidy appearance is desired.CC BY-SA 4.0
Heath Sedge is appreciated for its textural foliage and adaptability, often used as a groundcover or accent plant in gardens, public landscapes, and for erosion control. It is particularly useful in drought-tolerant landscaping due to its ability to cope with dry conditions once established. While it prefers full sun to part shade, Carex flacca is not overly fussy about soil type, tolerating standing, slow, or medium drainage. However, it can spread quite readily, which may be a concern in small garden spaces or where a tidy appearance is desired.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Grass
- Height: 0.5-1 feet
- Width: 1-1.5 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate, Slow
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Summer
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium, High
- Drainage: Medium, Slow, Standing
Common Uses
Bank Stabilization, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Erosion Control, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Rock Garden, Salt Tolerant, Street Planting, Water Garden
Natural Habitat
Grasslands, open woodlands, and forest edges
Other Names
Common Names: Glaucous Sedge , Blue Sedge , Flabby Sedge , Blue-Green Sedge , Carnation-Grass , Gray Carex , Hesgen Lwydlas Y Calch , Blågrøn Star , Blaugrüne Segge , Schlaffe Segge
Scientific Names: Carex flacca , Carex serrulata , Carex glauca subsp. serrulata , Carex petraefurvii
GBIF Accepted Name: Carex flacca Schreb.