Carex emoryi - Emory's Sedge
The rugged, aggressive wetland sedge for stream banks and bioswales.
1.5-3' × 2-3' | Tall, brownish-green spikelets, late spring | Upright, aggressively rhizomatous wetland sedge | Full sun to part shade, moist to flooded soils | Exceptional erosion control and water-edge habitat value
Native to the marshes, wet meadows, and riverbanks of the Eastern and Central US, Carex emoryi is a heavy-duty ecological workhorse. It thrives in wet, heavy soils and easily tolerates seasonal flooding and standing water, utilizing an aggressive, deep-rooted rhizome system to lock loose soils in place.
Tall, sturdy flower stems bear brownish-green, caterpillar-like spikelets in late spring, standing noticeably above the foliage. The broad, sturdy leaves have a blue-green to bright green color, forming dense, upright thickets that are tough enough to withstand the scouring flow of moving floodwaters. In late fall, the foliage turns a straw-brown color and begins to collapse, naturally creating a thick thatch that insulates the muddy banks and provides critical cover for overwintering amphibians in the winter landscape.
Emory's Sedge makes a great stream-bank stabilizer, rain garden basin plant, or retention pond border thanks to its robust stature, extreme tolerance for "wet feet," and ability to outcompete invasive weeds in wet environments. Because it spreads rapidly, it is best used in large naturalized areas where it has room to roam rather than in small, tidy garden beds.
Larval Host for: Dukes' Skipper Euphyes dukesi Black Dash Euphyes conspicua Mulberry Wing Poanes massasoit Various Wetland Moths Family Noctuidae
(Note: Emory's Sedge is so effective at building soil and holding banks that it is one of the primary species used by civil engineers and ecologists for large-scale river restoration projects!)
More information:
https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/main.php?pg=show-taxon.php&plantname=Carex%20emoryi
Specifications
| Pot Size | Plugs, Quart, #1, #3 |
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