oval sedge
Carex leporina
USDA zones4 to 8
SunHandles partial shade to full shade
WaterHandles moderate or wet soil
Size1 to 2.5 feet tall12 to 18 inches wide
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer
- Bloom color
- Yellowish-brown
Garden uses
Notes
Oval sedge (Carex leporina) is a grass for rain gardens and naturalized areas. It is hardy to USDA zone 4, or down to -30°F (-34°C). This plant likes part to full shade and average to wet soil. It grows 12 to 30 inches tall and spreads 12 to 18 inches, with yellowish-brown flowers in late spring and early summer. Deer usually look elsewhere for a meal. Give it room to spread in a damp corner of the garden.
Pairs well with Pickerel weed, Meadowsweet, and Northern sea oats.
Native range
Asia, Europe, and western North America.