Carex spartea, commonly known as Nuttall’s Sedge, is a deciduous perennial herb native to Southern Africa. It typically grows to a height of 0.5-1 feet (0.2-0.3 meters) and a width of 0.5-0.8 feet (0.2-0.2 meters), forming dense clumps of narrow, grass-like leaves. The plant produces inconspicuous greenish-brown flowers in late spring to early summer, which are followed by seed-filled perigynia that are of interest to some wildlife species.

Nuttall’s Sedge is valued for its adaptability and is used in rain gardens, as a ground cover, and for erosion control due to its fibrous root system. It is a low-maintenance option for naturalistic and wildlife-friendly gardens. This sedge prefers consistently moist soils but can tolerate drier conditions once established. It thrives in full sun to part shade and requires soil with medium drainage. While generally disease-free, it can suffer from rust or rot in overly wet conditions. Nuttall’s Sedge is not known for aggressive roots or significant invasiveness, but it can self-seed in optimal conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0