Chamisso sedge
Carex pachystachya
Last reviewed: September 2026
Chamisso sedge (Carex pachystachya) is a perennial grass native to AZ, CA, CO, ID and 6 more states. It blooms in May and June.
Toxicity unknown
Chamisso sedge (Carex pachystachya) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part sun
Water
medium
Size
12"–24" H × 12"–18" W
Bloom
May, Jun
Native to
AZ, CA, CO, ID and 6 more states
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 458 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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A tufted sedge with narrow, arching leaves and dense, thick flower spikes in early summer. It grows in moist meadows and open woodland, forming tidy clumps.
Growing Chamisso sedge
Grow Chamisso sedge in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 12 to 18 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Provides seed for birds and cover for small wildlife in moist meadow habitats.
Common questions
- How much sun does Chamisso sedge need?
- Chamisso sedge grows best in part sun conditions.
- When does Chamisso sedge bloom?
- Chamisso sedge blooms in May and June.
- Where is Chamisso sedge native?
- Chamisso sedge (Carex pachystachya) is native to AZ, CA, CO, ID and 6 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Chamisso sedge? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.