Carex plantaginea (Plantainleaf Sedge)

Carex plantaginea, also called plantainleaf sedge, is a shade-loving perennial sedge native to rich woodland environments throughout eastern North America. Plantainleaf sedge draws its name from its resemblance to plantain weed (Plantago major), with wide, deeply veined foliage. While the species is low-growing to only about 12" tall, this sedge's broad foliage spreads slowly in small clumps to 12-18" wide, and can colonize up to another 8" per year. Wide, semi-evergreen foliage in rich shades of darker green also makes it an excellent choice to break up areas with lighter colors or thin foliage.

Although individual clumps grow to one or two feet tall, plantainleaf sedge also produces small, upright, brown and yellow flower spikes that bloom in late spring to early summer, rising about a foot from the base of the plant. Though these small flowers are wind pollinated, Carex plantaginea still serves as an important hose plant for a number of butterfly and moth species, whose caterpillars live in and eat the sedge's foliage. Plantainleaf sedge's ecological benefits as well as its low profile and slow-spreading nature also make it a great choice for naturalizing in woodlands, underplanting among larger shrubs, and for growing in containers.