FoliagePennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica) is a slow-growing perennial, hardy in USDA zones 3-8, that matures to about 0.5-1 ft × 0.5-1 ft. It does best in part shade and full shade with low water needs in well-drained, moist and occasionally-dry soil. Expect brown, cream and green blooms in spring. It attracts butterflies, small mammals and songbirds, stands up well to deer, drought and erosion.
- USDA zones
- 3-8
- Sun
- Part shade, Full shade
- Water
- Low
- Mature size
- 0.5-1 ft × 0.5-1 ft
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally-dry, Occasionally-wet, Very-dry
- Bloom color
- Brown, Cream, Green, White
- Bloom season
- Spring
- Attracts
- Butterflies, Small mammals, Songbirds
- Tough against
- Deer, Drought, Erosion, Pests, Wet soil
- Native to
- Eastern North America
In the landscape
Data sources
Freeze survival
Will it survive your winters?
Hardiness zones show a normal bad winter. We check the worst one — Pennsylvania Sedge is hardy to about -40°F (estimated from USDA zone 3), so we'll score it against the real coldest nights your area has actually had.
Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.
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