Northwest Territory Sedge

(Carex utriculata)

Northwest Territory Sedge (Carex utriculata)

By Reuven Martin no rights reserved

Public Domain

Image By: By Reuven Martin no rights reserved

Recorded By:

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Carex utriculata, commonly known as Northwest Territory Sedge, is a deciduous perennial sedge native to wetlands, including marshes, fens, wet meadows, and along the edges of ponds and streams across the Northern Hemisphere. It typically grows to a height exceeding 1 meter (3 feet 3 inches) from a dense network of long rhizomes, which contribute to soil stabilization and water filtration in its native habitat. The plant features an inflorescence that is a cylindrical mass of flowers up to about 40 cm (16 in) long, with an accompanying leaf-like bract that is generally longer than the flower spike. Each inflorescence can bear up to 200 developing fruits, each enclosed in a shiny green, golden, or brown perigynium, which can be quite showy when backlit by sunlight.

Northwest Territory Sedge is valued for its ability to thrive in wet conditions and is often used in rain gardens, wetland restoration projects, and as a water’s edge or bog garden plant. It is also appreciated for its ease of maintenance and the textural contrast its foliage and inflorescences provide in landscape plantings. In cultivation, it requires full sun to part shade, high amounts of water, and prefers soils with medium to slow drainage. While it is not known for significant pest or disease issues, it can spread aggressively in ideal conditions, potentially outcompeting other plants if not managed properly.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Grass
Height: 1-3 feet
Width: 1-3 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: N/A
Flowering Season: Summer
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun
Water: High
Drainage: Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Bird Garden, Deer Resistant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Low Maintenance, Water Garden

Natural Habitat

native to wetlands, including marshes, fens, wet meadows, and along the edges of ponds and streams across the Northern Hemisphere

Other Names

Common Names: Common Yellow Lake Sedge , Beaked Sedge , Bladder Sedge , Bottle-Shaped Sedge , Common Yellow Lake Sedge , Inflated Sedge , Northern Beaked Sedge , Small Bottle Sedge , Carex Utriculé

Scientific Names: Carex utriculata , Carex rhynchophysa , Carex rostrata var. utriculata , Carex utriculata var. minor , Carex laevirostris , Carex rostrata subsp. utriculata , Carex utriculata var. globosa , Carex ampullacea var. utriculata , Carex vesicaria subsp. lacustris , Carex bullata subsp. laevirostris

GBIF Accepted Name: Carex utriculata Boott