Skip to main content

Chestnut Sedge

Carex castanea

Last reviewed: June 2026

Chestnut Sedge (Carex castanea)
Photo: Stoneville Weed Science Laboratory Herbarium, Jamie Whitten Delta States Research Center, Stoneville, Mississippi, as of January 2012, it has been part of the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science; entire herbarium is public domain[1] / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

Light

part shade

Water

medium

Size

8"–24" H × 6"–12" W

Bloom

May, Jun

Native to

CT, ME, MI, MN and 5 more states

Chestnut sedge is a compact native grass that forms small, tidy clumps with narrow green leaves. It produces inconspicuous brownish flower spikes in late spring and early summer, making it an excellent groundcover for partly shaded areas.

In an HOA neighborhood

Chestnut Sedge is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.

Wildlife value

This sedge provides habitat and food for various native insects and small wildlife. The seeds are eaten by birds, and the dense clumps offer shelter for beneficial insects.

Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

Does Chestnut Sedge fit your yard? Open it in Pollinator Patch to check it against your sun, soil, and HOA-conscious filters.

See it in the app

iPhone appAndroid app