Carex
sedge
141 species
23 subspecies and varieties
23 subspecies and varieties
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Carex abrupta – abrupt-beaked sedge
Distribution: Occurring in the Cascades and west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to Idaho and Nevada.
Habitat: Springs, moist meadows, and open forest.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring in the Cascades and west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to Idaho and Nevada.
Habitat: Springs, moist meadows, and open forest.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex albonigra – black-and-white-scaled sedge
Distribution: Occurring in the Cascade and Olympic mountains of Washington; Alaska to Washington, east to and south in the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Alpine areas, high elevation talus and scree.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring in the Cascade and Olympic mountains of Washington; Alaska to Washington, east to and south in the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Alpine areas, high elevation talus and scree.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex amplifolia – big-leaf sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Swamps, bogs and other wet places, lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Swamps, bogs and other wet places, lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex angustata – narrow-leaved sedge
Distribution: Occuring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to Idaho.
Habitat: Wet meadows in riparian zones from low to moderate elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occuring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to Idaho.
Habitat: Wet meadows in riparian zones from low to moderate elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex anthoxanthea – grassy-slope arctic sedge, yellow-flowered sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in lowland western Washington; Alaska to Washington.
Habitat: Bogs and wet meadows from low to moderate elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in lowland western Washington; Alaska to Washington.
Habitat: Bogs and wet meadows from low to moderate elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex aperta – Columbia sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; central British Columbia to southern Oregon, east to Alberta, Montana, and Wyoming.
Habitat: Wet meadows, peatlands, floodplains, shores, and marshes.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; central British Columbia to southern Oregon, east to Alberta, Montana, and Wyoming.
Habitat: Wet meadows, peatlands, floodplains, shores, and marshes.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex aquatilis – water sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, east to the Great Lakes and the northeastern U.S.
Habitat: Standing water or saturated soil, foothills to near timberline in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, east to the Great Lakes and the northeastern U.S.
Habitat: Standing water or saturated soil, foothills to near timberline in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. aquatilis – water sedge
• var. dives – Sitka sedge
Carex arcta – northern clustered sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex atherodes – awned sedge, wheat sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex athrostachya – slender-beak sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex atrosquama – black-scale sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex aurea – golden sedge, pumpkin sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and eastern North America.
Habitat: Moist or wet places from the lowlands to near timberline in the mountains
Flowers: April-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and eastern North America.
Habitat: Moist or wet places from the lowlands to near timberline in the mountains
Flowers: April-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex bolanderi – Bolander's sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington British Columbia to California, east to Rocky Mountains, also in Mexico.
Habitat: Springs, moist slopes, riparian forests, shores, upper margins of salt marshes, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington British Columbia to California, east to Rocky Mountains, also in Mexico.
Habitat: Springs, moist slopes, riparian forests, shores, upper margins of salt marshes, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex brevior – Plains oval sedge, short-beaked sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex breweri – Brewer's sedge
Distribution: Occurring in the Cascades Mountains from Mt. Adams and south in Washington; south-central Washington to California and Nevada.
Habitat: Volcanic ash, pumice, scree, talus, rocky slopes in the subalpine and alpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring in the Cascades Mountains from Mt. Adams and south in Washington; south-central Washington to California and Nevada.
Habitat: Volcanic ash, pumice, scree, talus, rocky slopes in the subalpine and alpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex brunnescens – brown sedge
Distribution: Circumboreal at high latitudes, south through the Cascades to the Siskiyou Mountains of Oregon
Habitat: Wet places in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Circumboreal at high latitudes, south through the Cascades to the Siskiyou Mountains of Oregon
Habitat: Wet places in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. brunnescens – brownish sedge
Carex buxbaumii – brown bog sedge, Buxbaum's sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex californica – California sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex canescens – silvery sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. canescens – grey sedge, silvery sedge
Carex capillaris – hair sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America; circumboreal.
Habitat: Shores, peatlands, wet meadows, springs, wet talus, often limy.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America; circumboreal.
Habitat: Shores, peatlands, wet meadows, springs, wet talus, often limy.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex capitata – capitate sedge
Distribution: Occurring in northwestern and north-central Washington near the Canadian border; Alaska south to California and Nevada (but not in Oregon), east to the Rocky Mountains in the U.S. and east across Canada to the Atlantic Coast; circumboreal.
Habitat: Alpine slopes.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring in northwestern and north-central Washington near the Canadian border; Alaska south to California and Nevada (but not in Oregon), east to the Rocky Mountains in the U.S. and east across Canada to the Atlantic Coast; circumboreal.
Habitat: Alpine slopes.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex chordorrhiza – cordroot sedge, creeping sedge, rope-root sedge
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex comosa – bearded sedge, bristly sedge
Distribution: Widespread in eastern United States, occasional in Washington, Idaho and Montana
Habitat: Marshes and wet meadows from the lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Widespread in eastern United States, occasional in Washington, Idaho and Montana
Habitat: Marshes and wet meadows from the lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex concinnoides – northwestern sedge, tetrastigmatic sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: April - July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: April - July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex crawfordii – Crawford's sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex cusickii – Cusick's sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
Habitat: Wetlands, lake and pond edges, and other wet areas.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
Habitat: Wetlands, lake and pond edges, and other wet areas.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex deflexa – mountain mat sedge
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. boottii – northern sedge
Carex densa – dense sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern Washington to California.
Habitat: Seasonally moist meadows, stream banks, wet prairie, springs, open riparian forest, and ditches at low elevation.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern Washington to California.
Habitat: Seasonally moist meadows, stream banks, wet prairie, springs, open riparian forest, and ditches at low elevation.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex deweyana – dewey's sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northeastern Washington; Alaska to northeastern Washington, east to Northwest Territory and south through Montana to Colorado, further eastward to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Open or riparian forest, swamps, cliffs, damp thickets, and mesic meadow edges.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northeastern Washington; Alaska to northeastern Washington, east to Northwest Territory and south through Montana to Colorado, further eastward to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Open or riparian forest, swamps, cliffs, damp thickets, and mesic meadow edges.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. deweyana – Dewey's sedge
Carex diandra – lesser panicled sedge, lesser tussock sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex douglasii – Douglas' sedge
Distribution: Chiefly east of the Cascades in Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to central North America.
Habitat: Dry to wet soils in sagebrush grasslands, riparian zones, and forest margins.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Chiefly east of the Cascades in Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to central North America.
Habitat: Dry to wet soils in sagebrush grasslands, riparian zones, and forest margins.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex echinata
Distribution: Circumboreal, south to North Carolina and, in the mountains, to California
Habitat: Swamps, bogs and other wet places, lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Circumboreal, south to North Carolina and, in the mountains, to California
Habitat: Swamps, bogs and other wet places, lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. echinata – star sedge
• ssp. phyllomanica – coastal star sedge
Carex engelmannii – Engelmann's sedge
Distribution: Occurring in the Olympic Mountains and in the Cascades Mountains south to Mt. Adams in Washington; southern British Columbia to Mt. Adams in Washington, east to Idaho, Montana, and Colorado.
Habitat: Dry or moist fellfields, rocky slopes, talus and scree, cliffs and meadows in the alpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring in the Olympic Mountains and in the Cascades Mountains south to Mt. Adams in Washington; southern British Columbia to Mt. Adams in Washington, east to Idaho, Montana, and Colorado.
Habitat: Dry or moist fellfields, rocky slopes, talus and scree, cliffs and meadows in the alpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex exsiccata – big inflated sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex feta – green-sheath sedge
Distribution: West of the Cascades, British Columbia to California
Habitat: Marshes and wet meadows from the lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: West of the Cascades, British Columbia to California
Habitat: Marshes and wet meadows from the lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex filifolia – thread-leaved sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: April - July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: April - July
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. filifolia – thread-leaf sedge
Carex flava – yellow sedge, yellow-green sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex fracta – fragile-sheath sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex geyeri – elk sedge, Geyer's sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Grassy slopes, meadows, and forest openings from the sagebrush foothills to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Grassy slopes, meadows, and forest openings from the sagebrush foothills to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex gynocrates
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in north-central Washington;
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in north-central Washington;
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex hassei – false golden sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex haydeniana – cloud sedge, Hayden's sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex hendersonii – Henderson's sedge
Distribution: West of the Cascades, British Columbia to California
Habitat: Boggy areas and wet woods, low to mid-elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: West of the Cascades, British Columbia to California
Habitat: Boggy areas and wet woods, low to mid-elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex heteroneura – different-veined sedge, smooth-fruited sedge
Distribution: Occurring along the Canadian border in Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to Sasketchewan and Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Moist to wet sites in the subalpine and alpine zones.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring along the Canadian border in Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to Sasketchewan and Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Moist to wet sites in the subalpine and alpine zones.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex hoodii – Hood's sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Sasketchewan, South Dakota, and Colorado.
Habitat: Dry or mesic meadows, rocky slopes, scree, talus, open forest, sagebrush desert, and recent burns.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Sasketchewan, South Dakota, and Colorado.
Habitat: Dry or mesic meadows, rocky slopes, scree, talus, open forest, sagebrush desert, and recent burns.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex inops – long-stolon sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades in Washington; British Columbia to California, south in Rocky Mountains from Alberta to New Mexico, east to the Great Plains and Great Lakes region.
Habitat: Forest openings, open slopes, and near streams in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades in Washington; British Columbia to California, south in Rocky Mountains from Alberta to New Mexico, east to the Great Plains and Great Lakes region.
Habitat: Forest openings, open slopes, and near streams in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. inops – long-stolon sedge
Carex interrupta – green-fruited sedge, interrupted sedge
Distribution: Along the Columbia River from Douglas County through Klickitat County, south in Oregon west of the Cascades
Habitat: Rocky banks and streambeds, and other low, wet places
Origin: Native
Flowers: April - May
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Along the Columbia River from Douglas County through Klickitat County, south in Oregon west of the Cascades
Habitat: Rocky banks and streambeds, and other low, wet places
Origin: Native
Flowers: April - May
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex kelloggii
Distribution: Across Canada, south to California (in the mountains) and Massachusetts
Habitat: Wet meadows and streambanks, sea level to near timberline
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Across Canada, south to California (in the mountains) and Massachusetts
Habitat: Wet meadows and streambanks, sea level to near timberline
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. impressa – few-ribbed sedge
• var. kelloggii – Kellogg's sedge, lakeshore sedge
• var. limnophila – lakeshore sedge
Carex lacustris – lake sedge
Distribution: Occurring in the northeastern corner of Washington; Alberta south to Idaho, east across the northern half of North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Wetland, swamps, and marshes.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring in the northeastern corner of Washington; Alberta south to Idaho, east across the northern half of North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Wetland, swamps, and marshes.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex laeviculmis – smooth-stemmed sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex lasiocarpa – wiregrass sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Utah, the Great Plains of Canada, and from the Great Lakes region to northeastern North America; circumboreal.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Utah, the Great Plains of Canada, and from the Great Lakes region to northeastern North America; circumboreal.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex leporina – hare sedge, oval broom sedge, oval sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, and introduced in eastern North America.
Habitat: Seasonally wet prairies, swales, shores, marshes, ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, and introduced in eastern North America.
Habitat: Seasonally wet prairies, swales, shores, marshes, ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex leporinella – Sierra hare sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex leptalea – delicate sedge, jelly bean sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Wet areas, both open and forested, from lowlands to subalpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Wet areas, both open and forested, from lowlands to subalpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex livida – pale sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Alberta, Montana, Colorado, and eastern North America; also in South America; circumpolar.
Habitat: Peatlands, stream banks, and wet open forests from lowlands to montane.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Alberta, Montana, Colorado, and eastern North America; also in South America; circumpolar.
Habitat: Peatlands, stream banks, and wet open forests from lowlands to montane.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex luzulina – spring sedge, woodrush sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex lyngbyei – Lyngbye's sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across Canada to Greenland and Europe.
Habitat: Coastal marshes and tidal flats.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across Canada to Greenland and Europe.
Habitat: Coastal marshes and tidal flats.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex macrocephala – bighead sedge
Distribution: Occurring in counties along the Puget Sound and outer coast in Washington; Alaska south to Oregon; northern Pacific Rim.
Habitat: Sandy saltwater beaches and dunes.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring in counties along the Puget Sound and outer coast in Washington; Alaska south to Oregon; northern Pacific Rim.
Habitat: Sandy saltwater beaches and dunes.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex macrochaeta – Alaska long-awn sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex magellanica – boreal bog sedge, poor sedge
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. irrigua – poor sedge
Carex mertensii – Mertens' sedge
Distribution: Alaska south in the mountains and the coast ranges of Oregon to northwest California
Habitat: Wet, open or shaded areas from the lowlands to near timberline
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Alaska south in the mountains and the coast ranges of Oregon to northwest California
Habitat: Wet, open or shaded areas from the lowlands to near timberline
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex microptera – small-winged sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Yukon Territory south to Mexico, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Moist to dry meadows and streambanks.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Yukon Territory south to Mexico, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Moist to dry meadows and streambanks.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex nardina – spikenard sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon and Nevada, east to the Rocky Mountains, and east across northern Canada to eastern North America; circumpolar.
Habitat: Alpine rocky outcroppings, slopes, and ridges.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon and Nevada, east to the Rocky Mountains, and east across northern Canada to eastern North America; circumpolar.
Habitat: Alpine rocky outcroppings, slopes, and ridges.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex nebrascensis – Nebraska sedge
Distribution: East of the Cascades, Washington to California, east to Kansas
Habitat: Wet meadows and other wet areas, often in alkaline areas, lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: East of the Cascades, Washington to California, east to Kansas
Habitat: Wet meadows and other wet areas, often in alkaline areas, lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex neurophora – alpine nerve sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex nigricans – black alpine sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex obnupta – slough sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; northern British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Sloughs, shores, wet meadows, riparian forest and ditches, in either sun or shade.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; northern British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Sloughs, shores, wet meadows, riparian forest and ditches, in either sun or shade.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex pachycarpa – furrowed broomsedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex pachystachya – starry sedge, thick-headed sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Saskatoon and Colorado.
Habitat: Wet meadows, springs, shores, peatlands, marsh margins, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Saskatoon and Colorado.
Habitat: Wet meadows, springs, shores, peatlands, marsh margins, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex pansa – sand sedge
Distribution: Along the coast in Washington; Washington south to California.
Habitat: Dunes, meadows, and other open areas along the coast.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Along the coast in Washington; Washington south to California.
Habitat: Dunes, meadows, and other open areas along the coast.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex parryana – Parry's sedge
Distribution: Alaska to Washington, east to Manitoba, Montana, and Wyoming.
Origin: Native
Distribution: Alaska to Washington, east to Manitoba, Montana, and Wyoming.
Origin: Native
Carex pauciflora – few-flowered sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Washington, east across Canada to northeastern North America; circumpolar.
Habitat: Sphagnum bogs and acidic peatlands, generally at low to moderate elevations in our area.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Washington, east across Canada to northeastern North America; circumpolar.
Habitat: Sphagnum bogs and acidic peatlands, generally at low to moderate elevations in our area.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex pellita – woolly sedge
Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; widely distributed throughout North America except southeastern U.S.
Habitat: Wet to dry meadows from low elevations to montane.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; widely distributed throughout North America except southeastern U.S.
Habitat: Wet to dry meadows from low elevations to montane.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex pendula – pendulous sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in lowland western Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Forest edge and openings, riparian zones, and other moist areas at low elevations, often where disturbed.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: May-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in lowland western Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Forest edge and openings, riparian zones, and other moist areas at low elevations, often where disturbed.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: May-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex phaeocephala – mountain hare sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex praeceptorum – teacher's sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex praegracilis – clustered field sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex praticola – northern meadow sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex preslii – Presl's sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Alberta, Idaho, and Montana.
Habitat: Open, dry to seasonally dry areas from montane to alpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Alberta, Idaho, and Montana.
Habitat: Open, dry to seasonally dry areas from montane to alpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex proposita – Smoky Mountain sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex raynoldsii – Raynolds' sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Subalpine and alpine meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Subalpine and alpine meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex rostrata – northern beaked sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northern Washington; Alaska to northern Washington, east to Montana, the Great Lakes region, and Newfoundland.
Habitat: Sphagnum bogs
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northern Washington; Alaska to northern Washington, east to Montana, the Great Lakes region, and Newfoundland.
Habitat: Sphagnum bogs
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex saxatilis – limestone sedge, russet sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex scirpoidea – single-spike sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. pseudoscirpoidea – western single-spiked sedge
• ssp. scirpoidea – northern single-spike sedge
• ssp. stenochlaena – Alaska singlespike sedge
Carex scopulorum
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. bracteosa – Sierra alpine sedge
• var. prionophyllum – firethread sedge
Carex spectabilis – showy sedge
Distribution: Alaska to California, east to Alberta and Montana
Habitat: Damp meadows and other wet places, mid- to high elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Alaska to California, east to Alberta and Montana
Habitat: Damp meadows and other wet places, mid- to high elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex stipata
Distribution: Alaska, Canada and most of the United states
Habitat: Wet ground, lowlands (especially west of the Cascades) to mid-elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Alaska, Canada and most of the United states
Habitat: Wet ground, lowlands (especially west of the Cascades) to mid-elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. stipata – awl-fruited sedge, sawbeak sedge
Carex straminiformis – Mt. Shasta sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex stylosa – long-style sedge
Distribution: Alaska to Clallam County, Washington, east across Canada to Labrador
Habitat: Usually near the coast
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Alaska to Clallam County, Washington, east across Canada to Labrador
Habitat: Usually near the coast
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex sychnocephala – many-headed sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex tahoensis – Lake Tahoe sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Yukon Territory to California, east to Alberta, Montana, and Colorado.
Habitat: Generally subalpine and alpine rocky slopes, ridges, talus and scree, and dry meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Yukon Territory to California, east to Alberta, Montana, and Colorado.
Habitat: Generally subalpine and alpine rocky slopes, ridges, talus and scree, and dry meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex tenera – quill sedge, slender sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex tribuloides – tribulation sedge
Distribution: In Washington known only from King and Pierce counties; central Great Plains of the U.S. north and east to Atlantic Coast
Habitat: Lowland riparian areas, likely associated with disturbance.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: In Washington known only from King and Pierce counties; central Great Plains of the U.S. north and east to Atlantic Coast
Habitat: Lowland riparian areas, likely associated with disturbance.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. tribuloides – blunt broom sedge
Carex utriculata – beaked sedge, inflated sedge, Northwest Territory sedge
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex vesicaria – inflated sedge, oxbow sedge
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex viridula – green sedge
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. viridula – greenish sedge, little green sedge
Carex vulpinoidea – fox sedge
Distribution: Much of the United States and southern Canada; chiefly east of the Cascades in Washington
Habitat: Marshes and standing water, lowlands and foothills
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Much of the United States and southern Canada; chiefly east of the Cascades in Washington
Habitat: Marshes and standing water, lowlands and foothills
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - August
Growth Duration: Perennial
