Carex hirtifolia, Hairy Wood Sedge

 
 

Hairy Wood Sedge sums it up pretty well. You can find this sedge growing within eastern, central, and southern Minnesota woodlands. It can do almost as well as Common Wood Sedge on disturbed sites, such as beside hiking trails, but it won't be found growing in full sun like its cousin. Hairy Wood Sedge is an excellent species to plant into woodland restorations, yet is uncommon to find at nurseries. We always have a few on hand culled from our trail work and then propagated by division each autumn.

Blooms: green-beige, May into July

Height: 10 to 20 inches

Conditions: pt shade to shade, medium to medium dry soils

The hairs on the blades that give this sedge its name.