Carex fraseriana aka Carex Fraseriana

Carex fraseriana is known as lily-leaf sedge or Fraser's sedge. This evergreen perennial belongs to the sedge family, Cyperaceae. It comes from the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States. It is scarce in western North Carolina and endangered within some areas. Its name honors John Fraser, who found it in 1808. Older records may call it Cymophyllus fraseri.

The plant forms clumps rather than a tall, upright mass. It reaches 1–1.5 feet [0.30–0.46 metres] high. Mature clumps spread 1.5–2 feet [0.46–0.61 metres] wide. Its broad leaves give it an unusual look for a sedge. The dark green blades droop and feel leathery. They exceed 0.5 feet [0.15 metres] in length. Their width ranges from 0.08–0.25 feet [0.025–0.076 metres]. Each leaf lacks a single main vein down its center. Instead, it has 50–90 veins of much the same size. Fine waves mark the edges, which feel rough when touched.

Flowers appear from May to July on spikes. Male flowers sit above the female flowers on each spike. Long white stamens hang from the male flowers. The female flowers have white, bottle-shaped sacs called utricles. These turn green as the fruit develops. Both flower types stand out against the dark leaves. The small, dry fruits are achenes. They turn tan to brown and show from July to September. Birds and small mammals eat them and shelter among the leaves.

Give this sedge a cool site with moist, humus-rich soil. It needs acid soil and suits partial to deep shade. In the wild, it grows beneath rosebay rhododendron. A garden site with similar shade suits its needs. Its listed hardiness range covers USDA zones 5–7. Growers can raise plants from seed or divide existing clumps. The foliage stays green through winter, adding interest beyond the flowering season.

Use it as a low border, ground cover, or small accent. It also suits containers and plantings in small groups. Woodland, native, shade, and winter gardens provide suitable settings. Its leaves feed the larvae of some satyrine butterflies. This makes it useful in gardens planned for butterflies. No serious pest or disease problems are reported. The supplied sources do not establish human edibility or toxicity.