Awl-fruited Sedge (Carex stipata)
KARE-ex stipata

Deciduous Perennial Clump-Forming, Upright in the Cyperaceae Family
Spiky elongated heads up to four inches; thrives in wet soils.

Carex stipata (Awl-fruited Sedge) is a clump-forming, obligate-wetland sedge native across most of North America. It forms stout, upright clumps of bright green, spongy-stemmed foliage 2-3 feet tall, with compound flower clusters of 15-25 branches that mature to light brown or red-brown by midsummer. It is naturally found along river banks, in floodplain forests, wet meadows, marshes, and swamps, and tolerates full sun to partial shade as long as soil stays consistently moist to wet. Its seed is eaten by birds including woodcocks, ducks, and swamp sparrows, and its foliage supports several caterpillar species.

Pros

  • Tolerates consistently wet to saturated soil, useful for rain gardens and pond edges
  • Stout, upright clumping habit
  • Seed feeds waterfowl and songbirds
  • Host plant for several caterpillar species

Cons

  • Needs consistently moist to wet soil; struggles in average or dry conditions
  • Not ornamental in flower
Why Like

A workhorse native sedge for wet sites where few other perennials thrive - rain gardens, pond margins, and floodplain plantings. Its seed feeds waterfowl (woodcocks, ducks) and swamp sparrows, and its foliage hosts several caterpillar species, making it a quietly important link in wetland food webs.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 36 inches tall. 24 - 36 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Partial Shade
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet
Zones 3a - 9b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Full Sun, Grasses, Illinois Native, Medium, Native to North America, Partial Shade, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant
Bloom Period May
Flower Color Green
 

Plant Club Content
Want More photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search!
 


Pricing and Availability History

Click a label to toggle visibility for that size

Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 05/04 - 09/24

© North Shore Plant Club 2026. Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions.

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.


Benefits of Membership

Want a better way to get great plants and make your yard look awesome? Create your account below and get:

  • The best plants… from the same sources the pros use, but at near wholesale prices
  • More plants in more sizes than anywhere else… whether you’re looking for classics or rarities; annuals, perennials or shrubs; one plant or a whole yardful!
  • "No Contact" delivery or easy pick-up at a site near you without fighting the retail crowds. You choose!

Membership is free, but — since we rely on delivery and local pick-up — you have to live near one of our hubs (or be willing to drive to a site to pick them up). If you live farther away, and would like to help us bring the club to your neighbors, please email helpusgrow@northshoreplantclub.com.

Already a member?
Login
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!