Eastern Star Sedge (Carex radiata)
KARE-ex rad-ee-AY-
Deciduous Perennial Clump-Forming, Mat-Forming in the Cyperaceae Family
Buy Eastern Star Sedge
Size
Notes
Price
Availability
Fine, dark green foliage forms dense, adaptable clumps 1-2ft tall. Thrives in part sun to shade and moist woodland soil; a reliable groundcover with distinctive star-shaped seed clusters.
Carex radiata is a native North American woodland sedge that forms low-growing, spreading mats. Growing 6-12 inches tall, this species features narrow, green leaf blades and distinctive, star-shaped flower/fruit clusters.
Eastern Star Sedge prefers consistently moist, well-drained soils in partial shade to full shade conditions. It is naturally found in rich, deciduous forests and other shaded, humid habitats.
Pros
Adaptable from full sun to full shade
Fine-textured, dark green foliage forms a tidy groundcover
Best appearance with consistent moisture; less robust if soil dries out
Growth and vigor can slow in deep shade
Flowers are subtle rather than showy
Why Like
Eastern Star Sedge is an adaptable native of rich deciduous woodlands, equally content in dappled light or deeper shade, where its mat-forming habit helps stabilize soil and suppress erosion on the forest floor. Like other native Carex, it provides structural cover for small wildlife and its seed is a food source for birds, while its star-shaped fruiting clusters are a distinctive identification feature among woodland sedges.
Plant Data
Mature Size
12 - 24 inches
tall. 12 - 24 inches
wide.
Sun Exposure
Full Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance
Medium - Wet
Zones
3a - 8b
(Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags
Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Full Shade, Full Sun, Grasses, Illinois Native, Medium, Native to North America, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant
We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!
Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants
Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.
Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.
Estimated Recipe Cost
The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.
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To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.
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No Pricing or Availability Right Now
We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region.
It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.
Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!