Small Yellow Fox Sedge
Carex annectens
Last reviewed: September 2026
Carex annectens, known as yellow fox sedge, is a clump-forming sedge that blooms from May through July and is often found in wet meadows, ditches, and moist open ground throughout the eastern and midwestern United States.

Toxicity unknown
Small Yellow Fox Sedge (Carex annectens) 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"–24" H × 6"–12" W
Bloom
May, Jun, Jul
Native to
AL, AR, CT, DE and 28 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
Yellow fox sedge is a native clumping grass that forms neat, upright tufts of bright green foliage. It produces small, inconspicuous flower clusters in late spring and early summer, followed by attractive seed heads. This sedge offers a tidy, grass-like appearance that works well as a groundcover or accent plant.
Growing Small Yellow Fox Sedge
Grow Small Yellow Fox 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
Small Yellow Fox Sedge is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.
- May look sparse in winter when dormant
Wildlife value
This sedge provides seeds for songbirds and small mammals. The foliage offers cover for ground-dwelling insects and small wildlife.
Common questions
- When does Carex annectens bloom?
- Carex annectens typically flowers from May through July, producing small greenish to yellow-brown spikes typical of sedges.
- What growing conditions does yellow fox sedge prefer?
- This sedge does best in part sun with medium to consistently moist soil, and it tolerates conditions ranging from full sun to part shade and from wet to medium moisture.
- Is Carex annectens evergreen?
- No, it is a deciduous sedge, with foliage dying back after the growing season and returning in spring.
- Where is yellow fox sedge commonly found growing?
- It is often found in damp meadows, low prairies, roadside ditches, and other seasonally wet open habitats.
- Is Small Yellow Fox Sedge HOA-friendly?
- Small Yellow Fox Sedge is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
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 Small Yellow Fox 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