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Mead's Sedge

Carex meadii

Last reviewed: August 2026

Mead's Sedge (Carex meadii) is a perennial grass native to AL, AR, AZ, GA and 24 more states. It blooms in May, June, and July. It reads as an intentional, HOA-friendly planting in the right spot.

Mead's Sedge (Carex meadii)
Photo: Nathan Aaron / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

12"–24" H × 6"–12" W

Bloom

May, Jun, Jul

Native to

AL, AR, AZ, GA and 24 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 PlainsGreat PlainsCross TimbersWestern Gulf Coastal PlainSouth Central PlainsEastern Temperate ForestsOzark HighlandsCentral Irregular PlainsNorthern Glaciated PlainsWestern Corn Belt PlainsNorth Central Hardwood ForestsDriftless AreaSoutheastern Wisconsin Till PlainsCentral Corn Belt PlainsEastern Corn Belt PlainsSouthern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift PlainsSoutheastern PlainsRidge and ValleyInterior PlateauInterior River Valleys and HillsMississippi Alluvial Plain

Mead's sedge is a compact native grass that forms neat clumps with slender green foliage. It produces subtle flower spikes in late spring and early summer, maintaining an orderly appearance throughout the growing season.

Growing Mead's Sedge

Grow Mead's Sedge in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Mead'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

This sedge provides habitat and nesting material for birds and supports various insects that feed on sedge family plants.

Common questions

How much sun does Mead's Sedge need?
Mead's Sedge grows best in part sun conditions.
When does Mead's Sedge bloom?
Mead's Sedge blooms in May, June, and July.
Where is Mead's Sedge native?
Mead's Sedge (Carex meadii) is native to AL, AR, AZ, GA and 24 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Is Mead's Sedge HOA-friendly?
Mead's Sedge is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

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

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