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Squarrose Sedge

Carex squarrosa

Last reviewed: August 2026

Carex squarrosa, or squarrose sedge, is a clump forming wetland grass that blooms from May through July and grows well in wet meadows, marsh edges, and low woodland areas.

Squarrose Sedge (Carex squarrosa)
Photo: Robert H. Mohlenbrock. USDA SCS. 1989. Midwest wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. Midwest National Technical Center, Lincoln. Courtesy of USDA NRCS Wetland Science Institute. / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Toxicity unknown

Squarrose Sedge (Carex squarrosa) 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 Squarrose Sedge as toxic to livestock.

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

12"–36" H × 6"–18" W

Bloom

May, Jun, Jul

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE 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 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Eastern Temperate ForestsOzark HighlandsCentral Irregular PlainsPiedmontWestern Corn Belt PlainsCentral Corn Belt PlainsEastern Corn Belt PlainsSouthern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift PlainsHuron/Erie Lake PlainsNortheastern HighlandsNortheastern Coastal ZoneErie Drift PlainMiddle Atlantic Coastal PlainNorthern PiedmontSoutheastern PlainsRidge and ValleyCentral AppalachiansWestern Allegheny PlateauInterior PlateauInterior River Valleys and HillsMississippi Alluvial PlainMississippi Valley Loess PlainsEastern Great Lakes LowlandsAtlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Squarrose sedge is a native grass-like perennial that forms neat clumps with arching green foliage. It produces distinctive spiky seed heads from late spring through summer and tolerates partial shade well. The plant goes dormant in winter, turning brown before new growth emerges in spring.

Growing Squarrose Sedge

Grow Squarrose Sedge in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 6 to 18 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Squarrose Sedge takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: moderate. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Requires consistently high water which may appear overwatered in maintained landscapes
  • Bristly seed heads can look unkempt to conventional standards
  • Unknown dormancy appearance creates uncertainty

Wildlife value

This sedge provides nesting material and cover for birds, while its seeds feed various songbirds in fall and winter. The foliage offers habitat for beneficial insects and small wildlife.

Common questions

When does squarrose sedge bloom?
Squarrose sedge produces its distinctive bristly, bur-like flower spikes from May through July.
What growing conditions does squarrose sedge need?
This sedge does best in part sun to part shade with medium to consistently moist or wet soil, making it a good fit for rain gardens, pond margins, and low-lying wet meadows.
Is squarrose sedge evergreen?
No, squarrose sedge is deciduous. Its grass-like foliage dies back in winter and returns each spring from the base of the clump.
What does squarrose sedge look like?
Squarrose sedge forms tufted clumps of narrow leaves topped with dense, spiky, brownish seed heads that give the plant its squarrose, or spreading and rough, appearance.
Is Squarrose Sedge toxic to livestock?
The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Squarrose Sedge as toxic to livestock.
Is Squarrose Sedge HOA-friendly?
Squarrose Sedge takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

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.

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