Carex stricta aka Tussock Sedge

Carex stricta, or tussock sedge, is in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. Its native range spans eastern and central North America. It grows from Quebec and Ontario west to North Dakota. The range runs south to Missouri, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Wild plants grow in marshes, bogs, and wet meadows. They also grow in wet hollows and along creeks. In Missouri, scattered groups grow in swampy Ozark meadows. Springs feed these sites, which are rich in lime.

This sedge stays green all year. It forms dense, round clumps called tussocks. Plants reach 1–3 feet [0.30–0.91 metres] tall. Each clump can spread to 2 feet [0.61 metres] wide. Stems beneath the soil, called rhizomes, help it form larger colonies. Its thin, grass-like leaves give clumps a fine texture. The leaves have a blue-grey cast. Newer leaves are yellow-green. Old leaves turn straw brown as they die. They build up at the base of each tussock. This mix of old and new leaves adds winter interest.

Flowers appear from May to June. Sources call them green or reddish-brown. Missouri Botanical Garden gives the flowers a minor role. The leaves and clump shape give the main garden effect. Groups of clumps make that shape more clear. Chicago Botanic Garden also lists it for specimen use. This means growing it as a plant to draw the eye. Both gardens note its worth as a ground cover.

Grow tussock sedge in sun or partial shade. It can also cope with more shade. Give it soil that stays moist or wet. It can grow in shallow standing water, with growth above water. This makes it an emergent aquatic. It suits sites that flood in some seasons. It also suits wet low spots. It can grow away from water if soil stays moist. Missouri Botanical Garden lists USDA hardiness zones 3–8. Chicago Botanic Garden gives a smaller range of 5–8. It needs little care where the site gives enough water.

Use it by ponds, along streams, or in rain gardens. It also suits sites where colonies can spread with no bounds. Its rhizomes may spread too far in a standard garden. That growth can be hard to control. Leave room for more than the width of one clump. The plant resists deer and helps limit soil loss through erosion. Missouri Botanical Garden reports no major insect or disease problems. The sources give no guidance on whether it is edible or toxic.