Hitchcock's Sedge
Carex hitchcockiana
Last reviewed: August 2026
Toxicity unknown
Hitchcock's Sedge (Carex hitchcockiana) 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 shade
Water
medium
Size
12"–24" H × 6"–12" W
Bloom
May, Jun, Jul
Native to
AL, AR, CT, IA and 20 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 areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
Hitchcock's sedge is a compact native grass-like perennial that forms neat clumps in partially shaded areas. This sedge produces inconspicuous flower spikes from May through July and maintains a tidy, mounded appearance throughout the growing season.
In an HOA neighborhood
Hitchcock's 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
Like most sedges, this plant primarily supports native moths and butterflies whose caterpillars feed on sedge foliage. The seeds may provide food for ground-feeding birds and small mammals.
Common questions
- How much sun does Hitchcock's Sedge need?
- Hitchcock's Sedge grows best in part shade conditions.
- When does Hitchcock's Sedge bloom?
- Hitchcock's Sedge blooms in May, June, and July.
- Where is Hitchcock's Sedge native?
- Hitchcock's Sedge (Carex hitchcockiana) is native to AL, AR, CT, IA and 20 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- Is Hitchcock's Sedge HOA-friendly?
- Hitchcock's 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.
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 Hitchcock's Sedge? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz