Carex arenaria aka German Sarsaparilla

Carex arenaria, or sand sedge, belongs to the Cyperaceae family. It is native to Britain and Ireland. Plants For A Future gives a wider coastal range across Europe. Its account also includes the Black Sea, Siberia and North America. This plant grows on sandy shores and settled dunes. It also grows where wind shifts and deposits sand.

This perennial reaches about 1.6 feet [0.5 metres] tall. Its spread can reach 6.6 feet [2 metres]. It grows fast and sends out long, creeping rootstocks. These help hold loose sand in place. This makes sand sedge useful for binding sandy ground. Its spreading growth deserves thought when choosing a planting site. Plants For A Future also lists it for cultivated beds.

Flowers appear from June to July. Each plant bears both male and female flowers. The wind carries pollen between the flowers. Seeds ripen from July to August. They are small, which makes them awkward to gather and use. The supplied sources give no species-level detail about leaf shape or colour. They also give no clear account of stem or flower colour.

Grow sand sedge in sandy soil with good sun. It also accepts loam and light shade. It can grow in poor soil without high nutrient levels. Suitable soils range from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. It prefers dry or moist ground and tolerates exposed coastal sites. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 6–9. Its separate UK zone figure is not an RHS hardiness rating. Sow seeds in spring, in moist soil with light shade. At 59°F [15°C], germination takes about two to six weeks. Divide established plants in spring. Grow small divisions under cover until their roots develop well.

Plants For A Future lists cooked roots and seeds as edible. Its account gives no further details for using the seeds. It records past medicinal use of the roots. These uses include preparations for chest, stomach, joint and skin complaints. Such records do not show that these treatments work. The source reports no known hazards, but this does not prove safety. The supplied evidence identifies no pests or diseases specific to this species.