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Swan's Sedge

Carex swanii

Last reviewed: August 2026

Swan's Sedge (Carex swanii)
Photo: cassi saari / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Toxicity unknown

Swan's Sedge (Carex swanii) 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 shade

Water

medium

Size

12"–36" H × 6"–12" W

Bloom

May, Jun, Jul

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 23 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

Eastern Temperate ForestsOzark HighlandsPiedmontNorthern Lakes and ForestsSoutheastern Wisconsin Till PlainsCentral Corn Belt PlainsEastern Corn Belt PlainsSouthern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift PlainsHuron/Erie Lake PlainsNortheastern HighlandsNortheastern Coastal ZoneNorthern Allegheny PlateauErie Drift PlainNorthern ForestsMiddle Atlantic Coastal PlainNorthern PiedmontSoutheastern PlainsBlue RidgeRidge and ValleyCentral AppalachiansWestern Allegheny PlateauInterior PlateauInterior River Valleys and HillsMississippi Alluvial PlainMississippi Valley Loess PlainsEastern Great Lakes LowlandsAtlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Swan's sedge is a clumping native grass that forms neat, upright tufts of narrow green foliage. It produces inconspicuous flower spikes in late spring through summer and turns golden-brown in fall before going dormant in winter.

In an HOA neighborhood

Swan'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.

  • Goes dormant in winter and may look bare until spring growth

Wildlife value

This sedge provides important habitat and food for native butterflies, moths, and their caterpillars. The seeds support various songbirds and small mammals.

Common questions

How much sun does Swan's Sedge need?
Swan's Sedge grows best in part shade conditions.
When does Swan's Sedge bloom?
Swan's Sedge blooms in May, June, and July.
Where is Swan's Sedge native?
Swan's Sedge (Carex swanii) is native to AL, AR, CT, DE and 23 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
Is Swan's Sedge HOA-friendly?
Swan'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 Swan's Sedge? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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