Muskingum Sedge
(Carex muskingumensis)
Muskingum Sedge (Carex muskingumensis)
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Photo by David J. Stang
CC BY-SA 4.0
Image By:
Photo by David J. Stang
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Copyright:
CC BY-SA 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Photo by David J. Stang | License Type: CC BY-SA 4.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 | Uploader: David Stang | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Carex_muskingumensis_Oehme_0zz.jpg | Notes: Uploaded a work by Kristel Schoonderwoerd from https://www.flickr.com/photos/43398391@N07/49918952557/ with UploadWizard |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Carex muskingumensis, commonly known as Muskingum Sedge, is a semi-evergreen perennial grass native to wetlands, floodplains, and moist woodlands in Central North America. It typically grows to a height of 3 feet (0.9 meters) and a width of 2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 meters). This sedge has a palm-like appearance with bright green leaves that radiate from the stem, creating a textured, upright form. The inconspicuous greenish-brown flowers appear in early to mid-summer and are not particularly showy, but they add to the plant’s naturalistic charm.
Muskingum Sedge is valued for its adaptability to wet conditions and its utility in soil erosion control. It is often used in rain gardens, along stream banks, and in naturalized areas where it can tolerate periodic flooding. While it thrives in full sun to part shade, it prefers consistently moist to wet soils and can even grow in shallow standing water. It is relatively low maintenance, but in garden settings, it may require division every few years to maintain vigor. Carex muskingumensis is not typically troubled by pests or diseases, but it can spread in ideal conditions, potentially becoming aggressive in small garden spaces.CC BY-SA 4.0
Muskingum Sedge is valued for its adaptability to wet conditions and its utility in soil erosion control. It is often used in rain gardens, along stream banks, and in naturalized areas where it can tolerate periodic flooding. While it thrives in full sun to part shade, it prefers consistently moist to wet soils and can even grow in shallow standing water. It is relatively low maintenance, but in garden settings, it may require division every few years to maintain vigor. Carex muskingumensis is not typically troubled by pests or diseases, but it can spread in ideal conditions, potentially becoming aggressive in small garden spaces.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Grass
- Height: 2-3 feet
- Width: 2-3 feet
- Growth Rate: Slow
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Leaf Retention: Semi-Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Medium, Slow
Common Uses
Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Rabbit Resistant, Rock Garden, Street Planting, Water Garden
Natural Habitat
Wetlands, floodplains, and moist woodlands in Central North America
Other Names
Common Names: Palm Sedge, Palmwedel-Segge, Palmzegge, Palmstarr
Scientific Names: , Carex muskingumensis, Carex arida, Vignea muskingumensis, Carex scoparia var. muskingumensis, Thysanocarex muskingensis, Thysanocarex muskingumensis,
GBIF Accepted Name: Carex muskingumensis Schwein.