Greater straw sedge is a native herbaceous perennial in the sedge family (Cyperaceae). It has a wide distribution across eastern North America. The species epithet is Latin and means "normal," but the reference is obscure. Plant it in the full sun to partial shade, although it tolerates deep shade. It needs rich, moist to wet soils and especially moist if planted in the full sun. Some temporary flooding is tolerated. This sedge has a clumping habit but can also spread via rhizomes. To maintain the shape of this plant, cut it back to the ground each winter. It will self-seed easily and can also spread by underground rhizomes. This plant is resistant to browsing by deer. Mass plant this sedge as a groundcover, or use it as an accent or specimen plant. It works well in a border front and can withstand the shade of woodland garden plantings. It is ideal for riparian areas, rain gardens or pond margins. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. More information on Carex .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Ground Cover; Herbaceous Perennial; Native Plant; Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasional Flooding | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Creeping
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Sheath; Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Papery
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Narrow linear leaves that resemble grass blades that are 1/4" wide and 2 feet long that sheath the stem.
Flower color
Green
Flower form
Insignificant; Spike
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Insignificant green flowers on tufted spikes appear late spring to mid-summer. The inflorescence consists of tightly packed spikes on multibranched stems.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruit is tiny achenes surrounded by bracts in early summer.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Triangular shaped green culms
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North central and eastern U.S.A. and eastern Canada
Distribution
AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV
Wildlife value
This plant supports larvae of certain satyrine butterflies (Nymphalidae-Satyrinae). Birds and small mammals consume the achenes and use the plants for cover.