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Quill Sedge

Carex tenera

Last reviewed: August 2026

Quill Sedge (Carex tenera)
Photo: Daderot / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

Toxicity unknown

Quill Sedge (Carex tenera) 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.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Quill Sedge as toxic to livestock.

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

6"–18" H × 6"–12" W

Bloom

May, Jun

Native to

AL, CO, CT, IA and 29 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 445 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

PiedmontNorthern Glaciated PlainsWestern Corn Belt PlainsGreat 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 ZoneNorthern Allegheny PlateauSoutheastern PlainsRidge and ValleyInterior River Valleys and HillsAcadian Plains and HillsEastern Great Lakes LowlandsAtlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Quill sedge is a delicate native grass that forms small, neat clumps with fine-textured foliage. It produces inconspicuous flower spikes in late spring and early summer, then goes dormant in winter like most cool-season grasses.

In an HOA neighborhood

Quill 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 seeds for songbirds and small mammals in fall. The fine foliage offers nesting material and shelter for beneficial insects.

Common questions

How much sun does Quill Sedge need?
Quill Sedge grows best in part sun conditions.
When does Quill Sedge bloom?
Quill Sedge blooms in May and June.
Where is Quill Sedge native?
Quill Sedge (Carex tenera) is native to AL, CO, CT, IA and 29 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Is Quill Sedge toxic to livestock?
The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Quill Sedge as toxic to livestock.
Is Quill Sedge HOA-friendly?
Quill 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 Quill Sedge? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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