Common Wood Sedge (Carex blanda)

Common Wood Sedge (Carex blanda) 

Despite how the name sounds, Carex blanda is anything but bland. The Latin word blanda means “pleasing” or “charming”, which is an accurate description of this adaptable native sedge. Common Wood Sedge brings a soft, clean look to shady or dappled areas, forming tidy clumps of arching green blades that gently fill in around other plants. Its foliage is a soft, bright green which gives it a gentle glow in the shade and adds a nice contrast to the darker leaves typically found in the understory.

This sedge is incredibly adaptable. It thrives in part shade but tolerates full sun with enough moisture, and handles a wide range of soils, including clay. Plant in groups to use it as a low-maintenance groundcover, matrix plant, or native alternative to turf grass in shaded areas. It self-sows gently without being aggressive, creating soft, cohesive texture over time that feels both natural and intentional.

Growing Conditions
Light: Part shade to full shade; tolerates full sun with moisture
Soil: Medium to moist; clay-tolerant
Moisture: Medium
Height: 12–18 inches
Spread: 12–18 inches
Zones: 3–8

Wildlife Value
Provides cover and nesting material for insects and ground-dwelling wildlife. Host plant for the Eyed Brown butterfly (Satyrodes eurydice eurydice) and the seeds are eaten by small birds and mammals.

Blooms Alongside:
Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata), Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans), Wild Geranium (geranium maculatum)