Deciduous Perennial Upright, Loose Clump-Forming in the Cyperaceae Family
Buy Retrorsa Sedge
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A wetland native named for its unusual downward-pointing seed spikes; thrives in consistently wet soil where many other plants struggle.
Carex retrorsa (Retrorsa Sedge, also called Knotsheath Sedge or Backwards Sedge) is a native North American wetland sedge that forms loose, upright clumps of bright green, somewhat floppy foliage. It gets its common names from its distinctive seed spikes, which point downward and backward along the stem rather than upward like most sedges. An obligate wetland species, it is found naturally in swamps, wet thickets, sedge meadows, pond and lake shores, and wet ditches, and it tolerates full sun to partial shade as long as the soil stays consistently moist to wet. Its dense clumping habit makes it useful for stabilizing soil in rain gardens and pond edges while providing habitat for wetland wildlife.
Thrives in consistently wet soil where many other plants struggle
Deer resistant native wetland sedge
Stabilizes soil and provides wetland wildlife habitat
Cons
Requires consistently moist to wet soil; will struggle in average or dry garden conditions
Foliage can look floppy or sprawling rather than neatly upright
Inconspicuous flowers offer little ornamental color
Why Like
Carex retrorsa is a true wetland specialist, stabilizing soil and providing structure and habitat along pond edges, ditches, and sedge meadows where few other plants thrive.
Highlights
One of the few sedges truly suited to standing water and boggy sites
Unusual backward-pointing seed spikes are a great identification feature
Valuable for rain gardens and pond-edge plantings
Plant Data
Mature Size
24 - 36 inches
tall. 12 - 18 inches
wide.
Growth Rate
Moderate
Sun Exposure
Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance
Medium - Wet: An obligate wetland species that requires consistently moist to wet soil; does not tolerate drought.
Zones
4a - 8b
(Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags
Attracts Birds, Attracts Wildlife, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Full Sun, Good for Rain Garden, Grasses, Illinois Native, Medium, Native to North America, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant
Pairs well with other wetland natives such as Iris versicolor (Blue Flag Iris), Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower), Chelone glabra (White Turtlehead), and Juncus effusus (Soft Rush).
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.
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!
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