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Club Sedge

Carex buxbaumii

Last reviewed: August 2026

Club Sedge (Carex buxbaumii)
Photo: (c) Trevor Edmonson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Edmonson

Toxicity unknown

Club Sedge (Carex buxbaumii) 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

full sun

Water

high

Size

12"–36" H × 6"–18" W

Bloom

May, Jun

Native to

AR, AZ, CO, CT and 34 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 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Northwestern Forested MountainsSouthern RockiesCentral Great PlainsOzark HighlandsNorthwestern Glaciated PlainsNorthwestern Great PlainsGreat PlainsWestern Corn Belt PlainsNorthern ForestsNorthern Lakes and ForestsNorth Central Hardwood ForestsDriftless AreaSoutheastern Wisconsin Till PlainsCentral Corn Belt PlainsEastern Corn Belt PlainsSouthern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift PlainsHuron/Erie Lake PlainsNortheastern HighlandsNortheastern Coastal ZoneErie Drift PlainNorthern PiedmontRidge and ValleyWestern Allegheny PlateauInterior River Valleys and HillsAcadian Plains and HillsEastern Great Lakes Lowlands

Club sedge is a native wetland grass that forms dense clumps with narrow, arching leaves. It thrives in consistently moist to wet soils and produces inconspicuous flower spikes in late spring. This sedge is excellent for rain gardens, pond edges, and other areas with poor drainage.

In an HOA neighborhood

Club Sedge takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Requires consistently wet conditions that are uncommon in typical landscaping
  • Goes dormant and looks brown in winter
  • Can appear wild and unmanicured compared to traditional ornamental grasses

Wildlife value

This sedge provides nesting material and cover for waterfowl and other wetland birds. The seeds feed various songbirds and waterfowl in late summer and fall.

Common questions

How much sun does Club Sedge need?
Club Sedge grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Club Sedge bloom?
Club Sedge blooms in May and June.
Where is Club Sedge native?
Club Sedge (Carex buxbaumii) is native to AR, AZ, CO, CT and 34 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Is Club Sedge HOA-friendly?
Club Sedge takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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.

See all plant problem guides

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