Carex montana, commonly known as Mountain Sedge or Soft-leaved Sedge, is a perennial herbaceous plant native to a variety of habitats across Europe and Russia. It is particularly adapted to calcareous grasslands, meadows, and open woodlands where the soil is typically alkaline. Mountain Sedge grows to a modest height of 10-20 cm and forms dense tufts of fine-textured, soft, arching leaves. The plant produces inconspicuous greenish-brown flower spikes in late spring to early summer, which are not particularly showy but add a subtle texture to the landscape.

Mountain Sedge is valued for its ability to form a low, dense ground cover, making it suitable for rock gardens, border fronts, and as an underplanting for larger perennials or shrubs. It is appreciated for its ease of maintenance and its resilience to cold temperatures, withstanding lows down to -9.4°F (-23°C). In cultivation, it requires well-drained soils with a preference for alkaline conditions and can tolerate partial shade to full sun exposure. While not commonly used for culinary or medicinal purposes, it is sometimes included in naturalistic plantings to enhance biodiversity. Carex montana is generally pest-free but can suffer from rust or root rot in poorly drained soils.CC BY-SA 4.0