SEED ORDERS OVER $100 SHIP FREE!
Carex blanda

Common Wood Sedge

$3.00 - $12.00

Packet
$3.00
1/8 oz.
$7.50
1/4 oz.
$12.00

Bare Root Plants
Out of Stock

3 Pack
Out of Stock
Tray of 50
Out of Stock

A nice ever-green sedge that is extremely versatile. Plant it in full sun or full shade with moist to semi-dry conditions. Common Wood Sedge can tolerate a wide range of soil types. A low-mounded profile makes it great for landscaping. In natural settings, Common Wood Sedge can be found in upland woodlands, woodland openings, savannas, thickets, and prairies. It is deer/rabbit resistant. Carex blanda can be somewhat aggressive if planted in areas with high amounts of exposed soil. 

Live Plant Shipping Table

Spring Fall Age/Size
Dormant Bare Roots
April/May October 1 year
Potted 3-Packs May/June August/September 2.5" wide x 3.5" deep pots
Potted Trays of 50 N/A August/September 2" wide x 5" deep plugs

Carex blanda - Common Wood Sedge

Map Key

Present in state
Present but introduced in county
Present and native in county; not rare
Not present in state
Present and native in county; rare
Species extirpated (historic)
State or county listed as noxious
Present in state; exotic

This map shows the native and introduced (adventive) range of this species. Given appropriate habitat and climate, native plants can be grown outside their range.

9 Questions asked on Carex blanda

Is this evergreen in zone 5?
In most winters, it is likely that only the basal leaves will be evergreen. Both temperatures and snow cover affect how much of the plant remains green. Common Wood Sedge does green up quickly in the spring.
I’m in Raleigh, NC - I have a half acre of woods that are covered in Japanese stiltgrass every summer. Can I cover the area in these seeds to crowd out the stiltgrass and keep it from growing?
Hi Heather. Unfortunately, no, this Sedge is nowhere aggressive enough to combat Japanese Stiltgrass. We don't have this plant (yet!) in MN, but reading up on it, I found this Nature Conservancy webpage to be very informative. It includes removal techniques. I would suggest completely killing off the 1/2 acre you have and starting fresh with a native Seed Mix for Shade, in the fall.
What is the lifespan of these sedges? Is there a general life expectancy for sedges?
Thanks for writing, Anita. There are more than 5,000 species in the sedge genus (Carex or Cyperaceae) worldwide, so generalizations are problematic. That said, sedges have the reputation of being hardy, long-lived perennial components of the understory of native plant communities. Their seeds persist viably in seed banks for years, so established populations of species like Carex blanda are reliably perennial components of the landscape for many seasons.
Can I sow seeds of carex blanda in place this fall, or does it need to be seeded in a tray and grown out before planting? The site is at the edge of woods with significant shade from young trees and tall shrubs. Soil is good clay loam, somewhat moist due to shaded condition. Native violets are present but sparse. Seed will be sown on bare soil; should it be covered? Thank you!
Hi Susan, You can sow this seed in place on bare soil in the the late fall! It should start to come up for you the following spring. I would leave it uncovered.
Hi! Does Carex blanda spread more by seed or rhizome/stolon?
Hi Michele. This species spreads by both seeds and rhizomatous roots. That being said, it is not highly competitive; if planted within a community, the spreading tendency is quite contained.
Hi, Would this be the time of year to plant Wood Sedge seeds in Zone 9a?
Hi Kevin. Looks like you guys are going to have consistently cooler temps in the near future. So right now should be a great time to sow your native seed!
Is Carex blanda okay to plant over a septic drain field? Will its roots seek out water?
Hi Jackson. Common Wood Sedge enjoys keeping its roots wet; we would not recommend planting it over a septic system - just to be safe. Some good alternatives would be Carex brevior, Carex rosea, or Carex eburnea.
Can the bare roots be planted directly into the soil in a woods, or do they need to be potted and cared for until larger? Our woods has lots of deer that try a bite of plants even if they ultimately decide to leave them alone, and they also step on plants.
Hi Anne. We recommend planting the Common Wood Sedge bare roots directly on-site. If deer are potential problems, the plants will benefit from a temporary cage until they are established enough to develop their deer resistant qualities (and hopefully the curious deer will acclimate to it's presence and step around the sedge once the cage is removed!)
To broadcast Carex blanda, how many square feet would 1 ounce cover? I would like to plant it under sawtooth oak trees which drop their leaves in spring as new growth appears. Should those leaves be gently blown off the area in spring?
Hi Barbra, Unfortunately, we don’t have an easy answer to that question. Our expertise is with diverse prairie seedings and with many species of native flowers and grasses, 100 seeds/sq ft is considered a good seeding rate. With just one species, it stands to reason that you wouldn’t need as many seeds per square foot as a diverse prairie planting because there won’t be as much competition between species. I’d say you’re shooting for somewhere between 30-50 seeds per square foot. The more seed you put down, the lower the risk of poor establishment but the higher the cost. The less you put down, the higher the risk of poor establishment but the lower the cost. Of course, you really only need about 1 mature plant per square foot but you can anticipate some seeds not germinating and some seedlings dying of various causes. Sorry we don’t have a more straight-forward answer, but I hope this helps you make an informed decision. You should not need to blow the leaves off in spring, but do make sure the site is clear properly prepared and weed-free before you sow the seed.

Seed

Growing your own plants from seed is the most economical way to add natives to your home. Before you get started, one of the most important things to know about the seeds of wild plants is that many have built-in dormancy mechanisms that prevent the seed from germinating. In nature, this prevents a population of plants from germinating all at once, before killing frosts, or in times of drought. To propagate native plants, a gardener must break this dormancy before seed will grow.

Each species is different, so be sure to check the GERMINATION CODE listed on the website, in the catalog, or on your seed packet. Then, follow the GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS prior to planting. Some species don't need any pre-treatment to germinate, but some species have dormancy mechanisms that must be broken before the seed will germinate. Some dormancy can be broken in a few minutes, but some species take months or even years.

Seed dormancy can be broken artificially by prolonged refrigeration of damp seed in the process of cold/moist STRATIFICATION. A less complicated approach is to let nature handle the stratifying through a dormant seeding, sowing seeds on the surface of a weed-free site in late fall or winter. Tucked safely beneath the snow, seeds will be conditioned by weathering to make germination possible in subsequent growing seasons.

To learn more, read our BLOG: How to Germinate Native Seeds

Dormant Bare Root Plants

We dig plants when they are dormant from our outdoor beds and ship them April-May and October. Some species go dormant in the summer and we can ship them July/August. We are among the few still employing this production method, which is labor intensive but plant-friendly. They arrive to you dormant, with little to no top-growth (bare-root), packed in peat moss. They should be planted as soon as possible. Unlike greenhouse-grown plants, bare-root plants can be planted during cold weather or anytime the soil is not frozen. A root photo is included with each species to illustrate the optimal depth and orientation. Planting instructions/care are also included with each order.

Download: Installing Your Bare-Root Plants

Potted Plants

3-packs and trays of 32, 38, or 50 plants leave our Midwest greenhouses based on species readiness (being well-rooted for transit) and order date; Spring shipping is typically early May through June, and Fall shipping is mid-August through September. Potted 3-packs and trays of 38 plugs are started from seed in the winter so are typically 3-4 months old when they ship. Trays of 32/50 plugs are usually overwintered so are 1 year old. Plant tray cells are approximately 2” wide x 5” deep in the trays of 38 and 50, and 2.5" wide x 3.5" deep in the 3-packs and trays of 32; ideal for deep-rooted natives. Full-color tags and planting & care instructions are included with each order.

Download: Planting and Care of Potted Plants

*PLEASE NOTE: we are a mail order nursery and have no retail facilities, but you may pick up your order if prior arrangements are made. Pick up orders are subject to **MN Sales Tax.

US Shipping & Handling Charges

SEED $100.00 and under: $5.00
Retail SEED orders over $100.00 ship free!

Custom seed mixes or discounted seed sales over $100, add 5% of the total seed cost
(for orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required)

BARE ROOT and POTTED PLANTS $50.00 and under: $9.00
over $50.00: 18% of the total plant cost. (For orders over $1,000 a package signature may be required.)

TOOLS and BOOKS have the shipping fee included in the cost of the product (within the contiguous US).

**We are required to collect state sales tax in certain states. Your state's eligibility and % will be calculated at checkout. MN State Sales Tax of 7.375% is applied for orders picked up at our MN location. Shipping & handling charges are also subject to the sales tax.

Shipping Season

SEED, TOOLS and BOOKS are sent year-round. Most orders ship within 1-3 business days.

BARE ROOT PLANTS are shipped during optimal transplanting time: Spring (April-May) and Fall (Oct). Some ephemeral species are also available for summer shipping. Since our plants are field-grown, Nature sets the schedule each year as to when our season will begin and end. We fill all orders, on a first-come, first-serve basis, to the best of our ability depending on weather conditions beyond our control.

POTTED PLANTS (Trays of 32/38/50 plugs and 3-packs) typically begin shipping early May and go into June; shipping time is heavily dependent on all the species in your order being well-rooted. If winter-spring greenhouse growing conditions are favorable and all species are well-rooted at once, then we ship by order date (first come, first serve). We are a Midwest greenhouse, and due to the challenges of getting all the species in the Mix & Match and Pre-Designed Garden Kits transit-ready at the same time, we typically can't ship before early May. Earlier shipment requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

*We are unable to ship PLANTS (bare root or potted) outside the contiguous US or to CALIFORNIA due to regulations.

Delivery

We ship using USPS, UPS and Spee Dee. UPS and Spee Dee are often used for expediting plant orders; they will not deliver to Post Office Box numbers, so please also include your street address if ordering plants. We send tracking numbers to your email address so please include it when you order.

FOR MORE DETAILED SHIPPING INFORMATION, INCLUDING CANADA SHIPPING RATES (SEED ONLY), PLEASE SEE 'SHIPPING' AT THE FOOTER OF THIS WEBSITE.

Details

Seeds/Packet
100
Seeds/Ounce
13,500
Germination Code
C(60)
Life Cycle
Perennial
Sun Exposure
Full, Partial, Shade
Soil Moisture
Wet, Medium-Wet, Medium, Medium-Dry
Height
12 inches
Bloom Time
May, June
Advantages
Deer Resistant
Highly recommended for home landscaping
USDA Zones
3-9
Plant Spacing
2-3'
Catalog Code
CAR77G