How to identify Wood sedge (Carex sylvatica)

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How to identify Wood sedge (Carex sylvatica)

Wood sedge, also known as Forest sedge

Wood sedge is an evergreen, herbaceous sedge that grows 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) tall with a tendency to form clumps through its short rhizome spread. The medium green foliage can appear darker green when in deep shade, and contrast with thin, arching flowering stalks reaching about 2 feet (60 cm) high. These support narrow leaf-like bracts up to 8 inches (20 cm) long, culminating in a spike of small green to brown flowers observable from late spring to fall.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Grass

Leaf Type: Evergreen

Quickly Identify Wood sedge

Short evergreen sedge, forming clumps with short rhizome spread.

Medium green foliage darkens in shade, contrasted by arching flowering stalks.

Flowering stalks reach approximately 2 feet (60 cm) high.

Long leaf-like bracts up to 8 inches (20 cm) in length.

Spike of small green to brown flowers visible from late spring to fall.

Wood sedge and Their Similar Plants

Striped weeping sedge vs. Wood sedge: What's The Difference?

With multiple cultivars, including at least one that has won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit, striped weeping sedge is popular in temperate gardens. Its leaves are slightly iridescent, creating a shimmering effect as the wind moves its leaves.

Morrow's sedge vs. Wood sedge: What's The Difference?

The morrow's sedge is an attractive grass that provides an accent to woodland or rock gardens. The leaves are richer in color when the plant is under the shade of medium-sized shrubs and trees. Its scientific name is Carex morrowii and its common name is a tribute to Dr. James Morrow who collected the plant in Japan in 1853-1854.

Berkeley sedge vs. Wood sedge: What's The Difference?

Berkeley sedge (Carex tumulicola) is a drought tolerant ornamental grass. It spreads slowly through rhizomes and can grow to about 30 cm tall. This species grows well in shade and is often planted for ground cover.

Pennsylvania sedge vs. Wood sedge: What's The Difference?

Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica) is a perennial plant that makes a great ground cover and requires very little maintenance. It blooms in spring with greenish flowers with purple margins. Thrives in partial shade to full shade in dry to moist soil. It provides nesting material for birds and is drought-tolerant once established. It prefers locations with cool summer nights.

Grassland sedge vs. Wood sedge: What's The Difference?

Grassland sedge is an evergreen ornamental grass that is liked by gardeners for its drooping foliage. Grassland sedge has a clump-forming nature and flowers during the summer. It is used in cottage gardens and for ground cover. It is naturally found in disturbed lands such as roadsides.

Glaucous sedge vs. Wood sedge: What's The Difference?

Glaucous sedge grows in many habitats, including disturbed and abandoned areas, grasslands, and moorlands. The blue-pointed ornamental grass is a popular ornamental plant, sold in abundance at garden centers and frequently used as a groundcover in beds, borders, and a range of gardens.

Gray's Sedge vs. Wood sedge: What's The Difference?

The genus name of gray's Sedge (Carex grayi) means “cutter” in Latin because the leaves and edges of the stems are so sharp they could cut you. The specific epithet celebrates Asa Gray, who wrote “Gray’s Manual of Botany.” It’s a species that’s indigenous to North America.

Hop sedge vs. Wood sedge: What's The Difference?

Carex lupulina is generally known as hop sedge and native to most parts of eastern North America. Its fruits serve as a food source for waterfowl. The plant grows in damp, swampy and grassy environments.

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Key Facts About Wood sedge

Attributes of Wood sedge

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Grass

Plant Height

60 cm

Spread

60 cm

Leaf Color

Green

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Scientific Classification of Wood sedge

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Monocotyledons

Order

Grasses, sedges and allies

Family

Sedge

Genus

True sedges

Species

Wood sedge (Carex sylvatica)

Learn More About the Wood sedge

Distribution Map of Wood sedge

Wood sedge, a perennial grass-like plant, is indigenous to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in shaded woodland areas. Though native to these broadleaf forests, wood sedge has been introduced and naturalized in other parts of the world, such as certain Pacific regions. It has also been cultivated beyond its natural range for various purposes.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the Wood sedge

A Comprehensive Guide to Wood sedge How to Grow and Care for Wood sedge