Carex praegracilis

This short rich green sedge will grow to 1 foot tall with a floppy habit. It spreads by runners, making it a great lawn substitute (once established, can handle substantial foot traffic), and a bank stabilizer. Sedges can handle standing water and full sun and Works well in a meadow garden with water loving seep monkeyflower, rushes, hedgenettles, and yerba mansa. Summer dormant, turning a buff color if not watered. Native to much of North America except for the southeastern region. Birds will eat the seeds and use grass fibers for nesting material. Strong root system filters water, is good for soil stabilization. Many species of Carex were used in basket weaving by native Californians. Found in meadows, open, wet areas, marshes, seeps, seasonally wet edges of ponds and frequently in alkaline soil. Communitites located in Coastal Strand, Valley Grassland, Coastal Sage Scrub, Creosote Bush Scrub, Yellow Pine Forest, Red Fir Forest, Wetland-riparian Between 0 and 9000 feet.

Low, spreading native species that is effective as a lawn substitute or ground cover. Extremely durable, it has withstood the foot traffic of children using the swing set in our garden. The thin, wiry leaves are a rich, dark green and rise above the spreading rhizomes to 12. Consider large drifts for erosion control or for a meadow mixed with other native species. Assertive in moist soils and can be kept lower with mowing. Full sun or part shade with moderate to occasional water. Hardy to 10 °F. California. Lawn Replacement Info Card

Carex praecracilis has often been sold as Carex pansa since the coastal dune form of Carex praegracilis is low & very similar to C. pansa. But our form is distinctively different. It grows to 3' tall & wide. And while it spreads by rhizomes, because of its size it is not an obvious choice for a lawn you actually mean to walk on. However if you were happy with the big & handsome “Berkeley Sedge” - (formerly Carex tumicola, now killclassified as C. divulsa, an non-native), you have a genuinely native alternative here in C. praegracilis. You can use it as big meadow grass, or fit it in along streamsides & ponds since it is a great erosion plant & likes some moisture. Or perhaps as a silvery, light-green foundation plant. If you need it to be neat, rake it clean in the spring.