Cherokee Sedge (Carex cherokeensis)
KARE-ex cherokeensis

Semi-Evergreen Perennial (usually grown as an annual near you) Arching, Clump-Forming in the Cyperaceae Family
A southeastern US woodland native with graceful arching foliage; borderline hardy in the Chicago area and best given a protected site.
Carex cherokeensis (Cherokee Sedge) is a native sedge of the southeastern and south-central United States, forming arching, slow-spreading clumps of evergreen to semi-evergreen, grass-like foliage. In spring through early summer, greenish flower spikes mature to a brown and gold, wheat-like color. Found naturally along woodland edges in moist sites, it prefers partial sun to shade but adapts to full sun with reliable irrigation, and tolerates average garden soil as well as consistently moist to wet conditions. Hardy to USDA zone 6a, it is at or beyond the cold edge of the Chicago area's winters and is best sited in a sheltered location or treated as a shorter-lived planting here.

Pros

  • Graceful, arching clumping habit with evergreen to semi-evergreen foliage
  • Wheat-like gold and brown flower spikes in late spring
  • Deer resistant
  • Tolerates average garden soil as well as moist to wet sites

Cons

  • Only hardy to about USDA zone 6a, borderline for the Chicago area's winters
  • Best foliage and evergreen character occur further south in its native range
  • May need a sheltered site or winter protection locally
This plant may be mostly winter-hardy outdoors where you live, but it may need protection to survive extreme weather.
Why Like Carex cherokeensis is a graceful woodland-edge native of the southeastern and south-central United States, valued for its arching foliage and wheat-colored flower spikes, though gardeners in the Chicago area should be aware it sits at the cold edge of its hardiness range here.
Highlights
  • Elegant arching foliage and wheat-colored flower spikes
  • Adapts to both moist woodland shade and sunnier sites with irrigation
  • Useful for borders and rock gardens, with a note on its zone 6a hardiness limit
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 12 - 24 inches tall. 12 - 30 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet: Prefers consistently moist to wet soil but tolerates average garden soil with occasional irrigation during dry periods.
Zones 6a - 9b (Usually hardy to -10° F)
Tags Deer Resistant, For a Shady Spot, Full Sun, Grasses, Medium, Native to North America, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant
Bloom Period April to June
Flower Color Green, maturing to Brown/Gold
 

Plant Club Content
 

More Info from Experts
Want photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search!
 


Pricing and Availability History

Click a label to toggle visibility for that size



© 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
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!