James' Sedge (Carex jamesii)
KARE-ex JAMES-ee-eye

Deciduous Perennial Low, Clump-Forming in the Cyperaceae Family
This woodland sedge develops early in the spring and blooms before the canopy trees have fully developed their leaves.

Carex jamesii is a native North American sedge that forms dense, clumping mounds. Growing 6-12 inches tall, this species features fine-textured, medium green leaf blades and small, inconspicuous flower/fruit spikes.

James' Sedge prefers consistently moist, well-drained soils in partial shade to full shade conditions. It is naturally found in moist woods, along stream banks, and in other shaded, woodland habitats. C. jamesii is valued for its low-growing, cushion-like habit and ability to provide ground cover.

Pros

  • Thrives in dry to moist shade where many groundcovers struggle
  • Low, tidy clumping habit works well as a woodland groundcover
  • Important food source for birds and host plant for two butterfly species
  • Low-maintenance and deer resistant once established

Cons

  • Spreads slowly, mainly by reseeding, so it takes time to fill in as a groundcover
  • Small stature and subtle flowers give it little show-stopping visual impact
  • Prefers some shade; may struggle in hot, exposed full-sun sites
Why Like An unassuming but ecologically valuable woodland native, James' Sedge produces seed that is an important food source for many woodland bird species. It also serves as a host plant for the caterpillars of the Eyed Brown and Appalachian Brown butterflies, along with various leaf beetles, grasshoppers, and skippers.
Highlights Low, tidy, grass-like groundcover for dry to moist shade; an important food source for woodland birds; host plant for the Eyed Brown and Appalachian Brown butterflies.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 6 - 8 inches tall. 6 - 8 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Partial Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Wet: Ideally grown in evenly moist (mesic) soil, but tolerates both drier and damper conditions once established, reflecting its native range across a variety of woodland sites.
Zones 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Dry, Full Shade, Grasses, Illinois Native, Medium, Native to North America, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant
Bloom Period April to May
Flower Color Green
 

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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 09/06
2024 : 05/01 - 07/06
2023 : 05/04 - 07/08

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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!