Woodbank Sedge (Carex cephalophora)
KARE-ex cephalophora

Deciduous Perennial Clump-Forming, Upright in the Cyperaceae Family
A compact, clump-forming woodland sedge with tidy habit and good tolerance for dry shade.

Carex cephalophora is a native North American sedge with a compact, tufted growth habit. Growing 6-18 inches tall, this species features narrow, green leaf blades and distinctive, dense clusters of flower/fruit spikes that mature from green to brown.

Oval-leaf Sedge thrives in well-drained, dry to medium moisture soils in partial shade to full sun conditions, typically in open woods, thickets, and wooded slopes.

Pros

  • Tolerates dry, shaded woodland soil where many plants struggle
  • Compact, tidy clumping habit
  • Low-maintenance native sedge
  • Provides food and shelter for woodland wildlife

Cons

  • Flowers lack significant ornamental color
  • Stems may flop over with age
  • Best suited to woodland settings rather than open, sunny beds
Why Like In the wild, Oval-leaf Sedge grows in open woods, thickets, and wooded slopes across eastern North America, where its compact clumps provide food and shelter for woodland wildlife.
Highlights Compact, clump-forming woodland sedge; tolerates dry, shaded soil; low maintenance; provides food and shelter for woodland wildlife.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 18 - 24 inches tall. 12 - 18 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 3a - 9b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Full Sun, Grasses, Illinois Native, Medium, Native to North America, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant
Bloom Period May - June
Flower Color Green, maturing to Brown
 

Plant Club Content

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well with other dry-woodland natives such as Heuchera (Coral Bells), Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas Fern), and other shade-tolerant Carex species.
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 05/18 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 09/21
2023 : 05/04 - 09/30

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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.


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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!