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Hitchcock's Sedge

Carex hitchcockiana

Last reviewed: June 2026

Hitchcock's Sedge (Carex hitchcockiana)
Photo: Shaun Pogacnik / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

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 432 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

Ozark HighlandsCentral Irregular PlainsWestern Corn Belt PlainsNorthern 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 ZoneNorthern Allegheny PlateauNorthern PiedmontSoutheastern PlainsRidge and ValleyEastern Temperate ForestsCentral AppalachiansWestern Allegheny PlateauInterior PlateauInterior River Valleys and HillsEastern Great Lakes Lowlands

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.

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

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