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Fescue Sedge

Carex festucacea

Last reviewed: August 2026

Fescue Sedge (Carex festucacea)
Photo: Robert H. Mohlenbrock. USDA SCS. 1989. Midwest wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. Midwest National Technical Center, Lincoln. Courtesy of USDA NRCS Wetland Science Institute. / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Toxicity unknown

Fescue Sedge (Carex festucacea) 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"–36" H × 6"–18" W

Bloom

May, Jun

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 27 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 437 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

Central Great PlainsTexas Blackland PrairiesEast Central Texas PlainsWestern Gulf Coastal PlainSouth Central PlainsEastern Temperate ForestsOzark HighlandsCentral Irregular PlainsPiedmontWestern Corn Belt PlainsCentral Corn Belt PlainsEastern Corn Belt PlainsSouthern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift PlainsHuron/Erie Lake PlainsNortheastern HighlandsNortheastern Coastal ZoneNorthern Allegheny PlateauErie Drift PlainNorthern ForestsMiddle Atlantic Coastal PlainNorthern PiedmontSoutheastern PlainsBlue RidgeRidge and ValleyCentral AppalachiansWestern Allegheny PlateauInterior PlateauInterior River Valleys and HillsMississippi Alluvial PlainMississippi Valley Loess PlainsSouthern Coastal PlainEastern Great Lakes LowlandsAtlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Fescue sedge is a clumping native grass that forms neat, upright tufts with fine-textured foliage. It produces small, inconspicuous flowers in late spring and early summer, creating a tidy groundcover that works well in partly shaded areas.

In an HOA neighborhood

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

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

  • Goes dormant and browns in winter

Wildlife value

This sedge provides seeds for birds and small mammals, and its clumping structure offers nesting material and shelter for beneficial insects.

Common questions

How much sun does Fescue Sedge need?
Fescue Sedge grows best in part sun conditions.
When does Fescue Sedge bloom?
Fescue Sedge blooms in May and June.
Where is Fescue Sedge native?
Fescue Sedge (Carex festucacea) is native to AL, AR, CT, DE and 27 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
Is Fescue Sedge HOA-friendly?
Fescue Sedge is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

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.

Ready to grow Fescue Sedge? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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