• Photo of Carex plantaginea (Carex plantagineas)

Plant Profile: Carex plantaginea

Taxonomy: Carex plantaginea

Names

Broad-leafed Sedge, Plantain-leafed Sedge, Sedges, Seersucker Sedge

  • Photo of Carex plantaginea (Carex plantagineas)

Phonetic Spelling:KAIR-eks plan-tag-IH-nee-uh

Genus:Carex

Species:plantaginea

Family:Cyperaceae

This plant belongs to the Cyperaceae family and is classified as a sedge. Its leaves bear a resemblance to the familiar weed Plantago lanceolata. It thrives in moist planting areas and features a distinctive pleated texture that enhances the beauty of shaded environments and native woodland flowers. Although it is tolerant of shade, the leaves tend to turn brown when exposed to sunlight, regardless of the amount of water provided.

Growth Habit: Tufted

Carex plantaginea Feature Summary

Carex plantaginea Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#perennial
#wildlife plant
#wet sites
#cpp
#native ornamental grass
#larval host plant
#native sedge
#butterfly friendly
#HS302
#pollinator garden
#audubon
#various satyr butterfly

Similar Plants

Carex plantaginea Feature Summary

Attributes
Native to North America
This plant supports various Satyr larvae.
Perennial
Flowers
Flowers early spring to early summer
Purple/Lavender
Red/Burgundy
Brown/Copper
Leaves
Purple-sheathed, light green leaves
Green
Purple/Lavender
1-3 inches
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Ground Cover
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Clumping
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Acid (<6.0)
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
3a
3b
High Organic Matter
Landscape
Rock Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Native Garden
Shade Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Accent
Container
Naturalized Area
Riparian
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds

Carex plantaginea Attributes

Carex plantaginea: Country Or Region Of Origin

Native to North America

Carex plantaginea: Wildlife Value

This plant supports various Satyr larvae.

Carex plantaginea: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Carex plantaginea: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Carex plantaginea Flowers

Carex plantaginea: Flower Description

Flowers early spring to early summer

Carex plantaginea: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Brown/Copper
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy

Carex plantaginea: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Carex plantaginea: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Carex plantaginea: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Carex plantaginea Leaves

Carex plantaginea: Leaf Description

Purple-sheathed, light green leaves

Carex plantaginea: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Carex plantaginea: Leaf Color

spa
Green
spa
Purple/Lavender

Carex plantaginea: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Carex plantaginea: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Carex plantaginea: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Carex plantaginea: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Carex plantaginea: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Carex plantaginea: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Carex plantaginea: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Carex plantaginea: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Carex plantaginea Whole Plant Traits

Carex plantaginea: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Carex plantaginea: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Carex plantaginea: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Carex plantaginea: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Carex plantaginea: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Carex plantaginea Cultural Conditions

Carex plantaginea: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Carex plantaginea: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Carex plantaginea: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Carex plantaginea: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
3a
thermostat
3b
thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Carex plantaginea: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Carex plantaginea Stem

Carex plantaginea: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Carex plantaginea Landscape

Carex plantaginea: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Carex plantaginea: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Carex plantaginea: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Carex plantaginea: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Carex plantaginea: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees