Pretty Sedge (Carex woodii)
KARE-ex woodii

Semi-Evergreen Perennial Low mounding in the Cyperaceae Family
A woodland native with soft, pretty green foliage and attractive red-tinged leaf bases; deer resistant and surprisingly adaptable to sun.
Carex woodii (Pretty Sedge, also called Wood's Sedge) is a native woodland sedge found under hardwood canopies throughout the Great Lakes region and eastern and central United States. It forms low, gracefully arching mounds of fine, medium-green foliage with distinctive red-purple coloring at the base of the leaf sheaths, waving attractively in the breeze. Inconspicuous creamy-yellow seed spikes appear in April and May. Though it thrives best in partial shade to full shade with average to medium-moist soil, it is unusually adaptable and will perform well in full sun with enough supplemental moisture, or tolerate periods of drought once established. Spreading slowly by rhizomes, it is useful as a woodland groundcover, for erosion control on shaded slopes, and even tolerates light foot traffic and mowing.

Pros

  • Adaptable woodland native that tolerates everything from full shade to full sun
  • Attractive fine-textured foliage with distinctive red-tinged leaf bases
  • Deer resistant and tolerates light foot traffic and mowing
  • Spreads slowly to form an attractive, low-maintenance groundcover

Cons

  • Inconspicuous flowers provide little seasonal color
  • Slow to fill in as a groundcover
  • Best foliage color and vigor occur in shade with consistent moisture
Why Like A true woodland native of the Great Lakes region, Carex woodii provides early-season structure and habitat under hardwood canopies, and its delicate, waving foliage with red-tinged leaf bases makes it a quietly attractive addition to any native shade garden.
Highlights
  • One of the more sun-tolerant woodland Carex species when given extra moisture
  • Red-purple leaf sheath bases add subtle color at the base of the plant
  • Great Lakes regional native valued for woodland and shaded groundcover plantings
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 6 - 12 inches tall. 18 - 24 inches wide.
Growth Rate Moderate
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Wet: Drought tolerant once established in shade; also tolerates medium-wet soils and can handle full sun with supplemental moisture.
Zones 4b - 8a (Usually hardy to -25° F)
Tags Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Dry Shade Tolerant, Edging, Erosion Control, For a Shady Spot, Full Sun, Good for Accents, Good for Borders, Grasses, Groundcover, Illinois Native, Medium, Native to North America, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant, Wet, Winter Interest
Bloom Period April, May
Flower Color Short, yellow tufted seed spikes
Foliage Color Green
 

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Plant Club Content

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well with woodland companions such as Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas Fern), Heuchera species (Coral Bells), Tiarella cordifolia (Foamflower), and spring ephemerals like Mertensia virginica (Virginia Bluebells).
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 09/20
2024 : 05/30 - 07/06
2023 : 07/06 - 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!