tussock sedge
Carex stricta
USDA zones3 to 8
SunHandles full sun to partial sun
WaterHandles moderate to wet soil
Size1 to 3 feet tall12 to 24 inches wide
- Habit
- Grass/grass-like
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, autumn, winter
- Bloom color
- Reddish-brown
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Tussock sedge (Carex stricta) is a grass for rain gardens, naturalized areas, and low maintenance plantings. It is hardy to USDA zone 3, or down to -40°F (-40°C). This plant likes full or part sun and average to wet, sandy, loamy, or clay soil. Deer rarely make it their first choice. It forms large tufts, or hummocks, in open wet areas. The dense tussocks give rails and snipes good nesting cover.
Pairs well with Royal fern, Smooth aster, and Gooseneck loosestrife.
Native range
Central United States.