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
Pairs well with other dry-woodland natives such as Heuchera (Coral Bells), Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas Fern), and other shade-tolerant Carex species.
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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About Ordering From The Plant Club
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.
Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!
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!