Carex vulpinoidea (Brown Fox Sedge) Unity Grown

Carex vulpinoidea, commonly called brown fox sedge or simply fox sedge, is an attractive, clump-forming deciduous to semi-evergreen plant found in wetter environments throughout most of North America. Commonly growing to 1-3' tall with a spread of up to 4' once established, Carex vulpinoidea is best noted for its showy, fuzzy flower spikes, which bear some resemblance to fox tails when they start to turn soft and brown in mid summer. Blooming from late spring to early summer, these large browning bottlebrush structures add texture and contrast to the sedge's graceful grassy foliage. Carex vulpinoidea is relatively low-maintenance and easy to grow, spreading via seed over time to form beautiful colonies and large swatches of even green in the landscape. While these showy sedges may be a bit wild for small garden spaces, Carex vulpinoidea was given a composite score of 4.0/3.9 out of a possible 5 points for its performance in shade and in sun, making it an excellent addition to open meadows and woodland gardens.

Like many sedges, fox sedge grows very well in damp to wet soils, and even grows well in poorly draining clay when given full sun to partial shade; Carex vulpinoidea is also unpalatable to deer and rabbits, making it even better suited for planting throughout rain gardens and along riverbanks on the Eastern Shore. Though tussock sedge does not provide much in the way of pollinator appeal, its foliage is a valuable food source and host for a number of different butterfly and moth larvae including the Appalachian Brown (Satyrodes appalachia) and the Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator). And beyond caterpillars, this sedge's fruiting seed pods are also a valuable food source for game and song birds. As a note, fox sedge is considered a cool season sedge and may fade a bit in mid-summer before coming back strong in the early fall and picking up bright yellow tones as the autumn goes on.