CAREX GRAYI / MORNING STAR SEDGE

CAREX GRAYI / GRAY’S SEDGE

A Rare Native Grass-Like Plant with Fine, Arching Foliage

Carex grayi, commonly known as Gray’s Sedge, is a native perennial sedge prized for its finely textured, arching green leaves and clump-forming habit. Thriving in full sun to partial shade with moist, well-drained soils, Gray’s Sedge adds subtle texture, graceful form, and ecological value to wet meadows, naturalized landscapes, and shaded borders. Its soft foliage and upright growth make it a versatile addition to native plant gardens.

Why Choose Gray’s Sedge?

Native & Wildlife Friendly: Provides cover for small wildlife and habitat for pollinators.
Elegant & Textured: Arching, narrow leaves create soft movement and visual interest.
Moisture Tolerant: Prefers consistently moist soils, ideal for meadows and wet areas.
Low Maintenance: Long-lived, resilient, and easy to grow in native plantings.

Key Features:

Foliage Color: Medium to dark green, narrow, arching leaves.
Flower/Seed Color: Subtle brown-green seed heads in late spring to summer.
Height and Spread: Typically grows 1–2 feet tall and 1–2 feet wide.
Hardiness: Hardy to USDA Zones 4–8.
Sunlight: Prefers full sun to partial shade.
Soil Requirements: Moist to wet, well-drained soils; tolerates loam and clay.

Specifications:

Plant Size: 1–2 feet tall, 1–2 feet wide.
Growth Habit: Clump-forming perennial sedge with arching foliage.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 4–8.
Flowering: Late spring to summer with subtle seed heads.

Ideal Uses:

Wet Meadows & Rain Gardens: Perfect for moist, naturalized landscapes.
Woodland & Shade Gardens: Adds texture and softness under trees or in shaded areas.
Borders & Edging: Works as a graceful groundcover in perennial beds.
Pollinator & Wildlife Gardens: Supports insects and small wildlife in native plantings.

Gray’s Sedge is a delicate and ecologically valuable native perennial. Its arching foliage, moisture tolerance, and subtle elegance make it a standout choice for naturalized landscapes, wet meadows, and low-maintenance native gardens.