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Fine green blades
Sedge

Pennsylvania Sedge

Carex pensylvanica

A soft, fine-textured sedge that makes a no-mow native lawn for dry shade.

the Northeastthe Mid-Atlanticthe Southeastthe Midwest

Growing Pennsylvania Sedge

Spreads into a flowing green carpet under trees where turf fails. Mow once or twice a year, or never, for a meadowy look. It’s deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, and easy to grow.

Where it grows

Pennsylvania Sedge is native to the Northeast. In the wild you’ll find it across Alabama · Arkansas · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kentucky and 24 more states. Always confirm it suits your specific county with your state native plant society before planting.

Regional Garden shows Pennsylvania Sedge on 34 state pages.

Good for

Sourcing

Where to buy Pennsylvania Sedge

Seeds & live plants on Amazon

Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.

Browse on Amazon

Some links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.

Plant it with

Companions & kin.

Natives that share Pennsylvania Sedge’s range and conditions.

Ornamental grass

Big Bluestem

Andropogon gerardii

The towering 'turkey-foot' grass that once defined the tallgrass prairie, head-high by fall.

  • Full sun
  • Dry to wet
  • 4–7 ft
  • Fall color
Ornamental grass

Indian Grass

Sorghastrum nutans

Tall golden plumes catch the autumn light above a classic tallgrass-prairie planting.

  • Full sun
  • Dry–average
  • 4–7 ft
  • Fall color
Ornamental grass

Little Bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium

The backbone grass of the prairie — blue-green in summer, glowing copper and silver all winter.

  • Full sun
  • Dry–average
  • 2–4 ft
  • Fall color
Ornamental grass

Switchgrass

Panicum virgatum

An upright, clumping grass with a summer haze of pink seed heads and reliable golden fall color.

  • Full–part sun
  • Dry to wet
  • 3–6 ft
  • Fall color