Carex
sedge
140 species
23 subspecies and varieties
23 subspecies and varieties
Show only taxa with photos
Order by:
Scientific name
Common name
Display as:
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
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Yukon to California, east to Alberta and Montana; also in eastern North America.
Habitat: Wet forest and thickets, marshes, peatlands, shores, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Yukon to California, east to Alberta and Montana; also in eastern North America.
Habitat: Wet forest and thickets, marshes, peatlands, shores, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex atherodes – awned sedge, wheat sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across North America except in the southeastern U.S.; circumboreal.
Habitat: Swales, shores, sometimes in water up to 0.7 m deep.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across North America except in the southeastern U.S.; circumboreal.
Habitat: Swales, shores, sometimes in water up to 0.7 m deep.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex athrostachya – slender-beak sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Great Plains.
Habitat: Wet meadows, drying shores, swales, springs, damp disturbed ground, 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 the Great Plains.
Habitat: Wet meadows, drying shores, swales, springs, damp disturbed ground, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex atrosquama – black-scale sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northern Washington; Alaska to Oregon, east to Northwest Territories, Alberta, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Colorado.
Habitat: Moist to dry subalpine and alpine meadows, fellfields, rocky slopes, swales, and shores.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northern Washington; Alaska to Oregon, east to Northwest Territories, Alberta, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Colorado.
Habitat: Moist to dry subalpine and alpine meadows, fellfields, rocky slopes, swales, and shores.
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 bebbii – Bebb's sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon, east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Riparian zones, wet meadows, shores, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon, east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Riparian zones, wet meadows, shores, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-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
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington in eastern Washington; southern British Columbia to eastern Washington, east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Lowland riparian zones, sloughs, swales, moist to dry meadows and open forests.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington in eastern Washington; southern British Columbia to eastern Washington, east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Lowland riparian zones, sloughs, swales, moist to dry meadows and open forests.
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: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Yukon Territory to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and eastern North America.
Habitat: Among dry boulders and talus, moist to wet meadows, streambanks, shores, wet thickets
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Yukon Territory to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and eastern North America.
Habitat: Among dry boulders and talus, moist to wet meadows, streambanks, shores, wet thickets
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. brunnescens – brown sedge
Carex buxbaumii – brown bog sedge, Buxbaum's sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Peatlands, wet meadows, marshes, shores; and circumboreal.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Peatlands, wet meadows, marshes, shores; and circumboreal.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex californica – California sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, disjunct in northern Idaho.
Habitat: Dry meadows, openings, clearings, peatlands, brushy slopes, and roadsides.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, disjunct in northern Idaho.
Habitat: Dry meadows, openings, clearings, peatlands, brushy slopes, and roadsides.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex canescens – silvery sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides 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: Wet meadows, peatlands, swamps, shores, springs, and wet thickets.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides 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: Wet meadows, peatlands, swamps, shores, springs, and wet thickets.
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 California, 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 where limy.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, 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 where 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 to California, east to the Rocky Mountains in the U.S. and east across Canada to the Atlantic Coast; circumboreal.
Habitat: Subalpine and alpine eatlands, shores, and wet meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring in northwestern and north-central Washington near the Canadian border; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains in the U.S. and east across Canada to the Atlantic Coast; circumboreal.
Habitat: Subalpine and alpine eatlands, shores, and wet meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex chordorrhiza – cordroot sedge, creeping sedge, rope-root sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon, east across the northern U.S. and Canda to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Peatlands, shores, and marshes.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon, east across the northern U.S. and Canda to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Peatlands, shores, and marshes.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex circinata – coiled sedge
Distribution: Occurring in the Olympic Mountains in Washington; Alaska to Washington
Habitat: Talus, cliffs, subalpine and alpine meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring in the Olympic Mountains in Washington; Alaska to Washington
Habitat: Talus, cliffs, subalpine and alpine meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex comosa – bearded sedge, bristly sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California; scattered in the central U.S. and eastern North America.
Habitat: Marshes and wet meadows from the lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California; scattered in the central U.S. and eastern North America.
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
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; central British Columbia to California.
Habitat: In and about conifer woodlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; central British Columbia to California.
Habitat: In and about conifer woodlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex cordillerana – cordilleran sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to Oregon, east to Alberta, Montana, and Utah.
Habitat: Shaded thickets, open forest, rocky slopes, often near streams, limy or not.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to Oregon, east to Alberta, Montana, and Utah.
Habitat: Shaded thickets, open forest, rocky slopes, often near streams, limy or not.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex crawei – Crawe's sedge
Distribution: Known historically (1841) from northeastern Washington; southeastern British Columbia to northeastern Washington, east to Montana and Utah, east to Newfoundland and Georgia.
Habitat: Limy gravel or ledges, wet meadows, peatlands, and marly shores.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Known historically (1841) from northeastern Washington; southeastern British Columbia to northeastern Washington, east to Montana and Utah, east to Newfoundland and Georgia.
Habitat: Limy gravel or ledges, wet meadows, peatlands, and marly shores.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex crawfordii – Crawford's sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington, but also along the coast where introduced in ditches, irrigation ponds and cranberry farms. Alaska to Oregon, east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Montane and inland, on shores, peatlands, and moist to wet meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington, but also along the coast where introduced in ditches, irrigation ponds and cranberry farms. Alaska to Oregon, east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Montane and inland, on shores, peatlands, and moist to wet meadows.
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 to California, east to Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada.
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 to California, east to Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada.
Habitat: Wetlands, lake and pond edges, and other wet areas.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex davyi – Constance's sedge, Davy's sedge
Distribution: Known historically (1909) from the Mt. Adams area; otherwise Lake County, Oregon to California.
Habitat: Often sparse montane meadows and slopes, occasional along seasonal runoff channels.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Known historically (1909) from the Mt. Adams area; otherwise Lake County, Oregon to California.
Habitat: Often sparse montane meadows and slopes, occasional along seasonal runoff channels.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex deflexa – mountain mat sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Alberta, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado, east across Canada to the Great Lakes region and northeastern North America.
Habitat: Montane to alpine open forest and meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Alberta, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado, east across Canada to the Great Lakes region and northeastern North America.
Habitat: Montane to alpine open forest and meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. boottii – northern sedge
Carex densa – dense sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; 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; 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
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America.
Habitat: Peatlands, shores, springs, swamps, sometimes in shallow water.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America.
Habitat: Peatlands, shores, springs, swamps, sometimes in shallow water.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex disperma – short-leaf sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America; circumboreal.
Habitat: Moist riparian forests, swamps, peatlands, wet meadows, and springs.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America; circumboreal.
Habitat: Moist riparian forests, swamps, peatlands, wet meadows, and springs.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex divulsa – Leers's sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington in lowland areas; also known in Oregon, California and eastern North America.
Habitat: Disturbed areas at low elevation, where escaping from cultivation.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington in lowland areas; also known in Oregon, California and eastern North America.
Habitat: Disturbed areas at low elevation, where escaping from cultivation.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. leersii – Leer's sedge
Carex douglasii – Douglas's sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades in Washington; central British Columbia 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: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades in Washington; central British Columbia 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 eburnea – bristle-leaved sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northeastern Washington; Alaska to Washington and Montana, east across Canada to the Atlantic Coast, also east from the northern Great Plains in the U.S. to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Gravelly shores, swamps, moist banks, moist forest, limy outcrops and talus.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northeastern Washington; Alaska to Washington and Montana, east across Canada to the Atlantic Coast, also east from the northern Great Plains in the U.S. to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Gravelly shores, swamps, moist banks, moist forest, limy outcrops and talus.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex echinata – star sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and eastern North America; circumboreal.
Habitat: Swamps, bogs and other wet places, from the lowlands to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and eastern North America; circumboreal.
Habitat: Swamps, bogs and other wet places, from the lowlands to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
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
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Swales, wet meadows, shores, seasonal pools, and peatlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Swales, wet meadows, shores, seasonal pools, and peatlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex feta – green-sheath sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Marshes and wet meadows from the lowlands to middle elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Marshes and wet meadows from the lowlands to middle elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex filifolia – thread-leaved sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Great Plains.
Habitat: Lowland to alpine, formerly common in dry meadows of Palouse and sagebrush.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Great Plains.
Habitat: Lowland to alpine, formerly common in dry meadows of Palouse and sagebrush.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. filifolia – thread-leaf sedge
Carex flava – yellow sedge, yellow-green sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Washington, east across the northern U.S. and Canada to northeastern North America.
Habitat: Wet meadows, marshes, shores, peatlands, and wet thickets, often where limy.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Washington, east across the northern U.S. and Canada to northeastern North America.
Habitat: Wet meadows, marshes, shores, peatlands, and wet thickets, often where limy.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex fracta – fragile-sheath sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California.
Habitat: Open forest, riparian zones, springs, moist or dry roadsides, and ditches, often in partial shade.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California.
Habitat: Open forest, riparian zones, springs, moist or dry roadsides, and ditches, often in partial shade.
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 – yellow bog sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in north-central Washington;
Habitat: Peatlands, moist forest, wet meadows, springs, swamps, mossy stream banks, talus, and often limy.
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in north-central Washington;
Habitat: Peatlands, moist forest, wet meadows, springs, swamps, mossy stream banks, talus, and often limy.
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex halliana – Hall's sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in southern Washington; southern Washington to California.
Habitat: Dry meadows, pumice, and open forest.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in southern Washington; southern Washington to California.
Habitat: Dry meadows, pumice, and open forest.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
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.
Habitat: Wet or moist meadows, springs, peatlands, shores, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Wet or moist meadows, springs, peatlands, shores, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex haydeniana – cloud sedge, Hayden's sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Alberta, Montana, and Colorado.
Habitat: Subalpine and alpine ridges, rocky slopes, talus and scree, snowmelt areas and stream banks, often in wetter sites in our more eastern mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Alberta, Montana, and Colorado.
Habitat: Subalpine and alpine ridges, rocky slopes, talus and scree, snowmelt areas and stream banks, often in wetter sites in our more eastern mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex hendersonii – Henderson's sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest and in the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California, disjunct in northern Idaho.
Habitat: Boggy areas and wet woods, low to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest and in the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California, disjunct in northern Idaho.
Habitat: Boggy areas and wet woods, low to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex heteroneura – different-veined sedge, smooth-fruited sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest along the Canadian border in Washington British Columbia to California, east to Sasketchewan and the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Moist to wet sites in the subalpine and alpine zones.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest along the Canadian border in Washington British Columbia to California, east to Sasketchewan and the 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 hystericina – porcupine sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to California, east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Shores, swales, marshes, springs, and wet meadows;
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to California, east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Shores, swales, marshes, springs, and wet meadows;
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex illota – small-head sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Alberta, Montana, and Colorado.
Habitat: Montane to alpine wet meadows, peatlands, marshes, shores, and springs.
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 Alberta, Montana, and Colorado.
Habitat: Montane to alpine wet meadows, peatlands, marshes, shores, and springs.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex infirminervia – weak-veined sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Alberta, Montana, and Colorado.
Habitat: Springs, mesic slopes, shores, riparian forests, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Alberta, Montana, and Colorado.
Habitat: Springs, mesic slopes, shores, riparian forests, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex inops – long-stolon sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, 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 chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, 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 integra – smooth-beaked sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in southern Washington; southern Washington to California.
Habitat: Dry to mesic montane meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in southern Washington; southern Washington to California.
Habitat: Dry to mesic montane meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex interior – inland sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Wet meadows, peatlands, swampy forests, and shores, often where limy.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Wet meadows, peatlands, swampy forests, and shores, often where limy.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex interrupta – green-fruited sedge, interrupted sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to southwestern Oregon.
Habitat: Sand bars, riverbanks, occasionally wet meadows, and reservoir shores.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-May
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to southwestern Oregon.
Habitat: Sand bars, riverbanks, occasionally wet meadows, and reservoir shores.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-May
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex jonesii – Jones' sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; northern Washington to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Wet meadows, shores, springs, stream banks, and peatlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; northern Washington to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Wet meadows, shores, springs, stream banks, and peatlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex kelloggii – Kellogg's sedge, lakeshore sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Shores, riparian zones, wet meadows, marshes, and peatlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Shores, riparian zones, wet meadows, marshes, and peatlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. impressa – few-ribbed sedge, mountain shore sedge
• var. kelloggii – Kellogg's sedge, lakeshore sedge
• var. limnophila – coastal shore sedge
Carex kobomugi – Japanese sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in southwestern Washington; known historically from Portland, Oregon; also in eastern North America.
Habitat: Coastal dunes.
Origin: Introduced from eastern Asia.
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in southwestern Washington; known historically from Portland, Oregon; also in eastern North America.
Habitat: Coastal dunes.
Origin: Introduced from eastern Asia.
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex lacustris – lake sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northeastern Washington; Alberta to Washington, 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 east of the Cascades crest in northeastern Washington; Alberta to Washington, 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
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
Habitat: Wet meadows, wet forest, springs, peatlands, shores, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
Habitat: Wet meadows, wet forest, springs, peatlands, shores, and ditches.
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.
Habitat: Wetlands, riparian zones, and other wet areas.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
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.
Habitat: Wetlands, riparian zones, and other wet areas.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
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
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to Montana, Wyoming, and Utah.
Habitat: Seasonally moist montane to alpine to wet meadows, marshes, shores, snowmelt basins, and peatlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to Montana, Wyoming, and Utah.
Habitat: Seasonally moist montane to alpine to wet meadows, marshes, shores, snowmelt basins, and peatlands.
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 leptopoda – short-scaled sedge, slenderfoot sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Idaho and Montana.
Habitat: Lowland mesic or damp forest, riparian zones, swamps, partly shaded swales or springs.
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 Idaho and Montana.
Habitat: Lowland mesic or damp forest, riparian zones, swamps, partly shaded swales or springs.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex limosa – mud sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Utah, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and eastern North America.
Habitat: Peatlands, shores.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Utah, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and eastern North America.
Habitat: Peatlands, shores.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-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 longii – Long's sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Ditches, cranberry fields, shores, and wet ledges.
Origin: Introduced from eastern North America.
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Ditches, cranberry fields, shores, and wet ledges.
Origin: Introduced from eastern North America.
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex luzulina – spring sedge, woodrush sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Montana and Wyoming.
Habitat: Peatlands, stream banks, springs, and shores.
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 Montana and Wyoming.
Habitat: Peatlands, stream banks, springs, and shores.
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 macloviana – Falkland Islands sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northern Washington; Alaska to Washington, east to Alberta, Montana, and Colorado; circumboreal, also in South America.
Habitat: Mountain lake and river shores, moist meadows and slopes, bogs, and other wet areas, including disturbed areas.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northern Washington; Alaska to Washington, east to Alberta, Montana, and Colorado; circumboreal, also in South America.
Habitat: Mountain lake and river shores, moist meadows and slopes, bogs, and other wet areas, including disturbed areas.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex macrocephala – bighead sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest along the coast in Washington; Alaska to Oregon; northern Pacific Rim.
Habitat: Sandy saltwater beaches and dunes.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest along the coast in Washington; Alaska to Oregon; northern Pacific Rim.
Habitat: Sandy saltwater beaches and dunes.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex macrochaeta – long-awn sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon.
Habitat: Wet cliffs and openings, near beaches, stream banks, scree, and heaths.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon.
Habitat: Wet cliffs and openings, near beaches, stream banks, scree, and heaths.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex magellanica – boreal bog sedge, poor sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in northern Washington; Alaska to Washington, east to Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Colorado, also to the Great Lakes region and eastern North America; circumboreal; also in South America.
Habitat: Peatlands, swamps, wet meadows, and lakeshores.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in northern Washington; Alaska to Washington, east to Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Colorado, also to the Great Lakes region and eastern North America; circumboreal; also in South America.
Habitat: Peatlands, swamps, wet meadows, and lakeshores.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. irrigua – poor sedge
Carex media – Montana sedge, Scandinavian sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Casades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon and Montana, east across Canada to the Great Lakes region and northeastern North America; circumboreal.
Habitat: Wet meadows, shores, springs, wet cliffs, peatlands, and swamps.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Casades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon and Montana, east across Canada to the Great Lakes region and northeastern North America; circumboreal.
Habitat: Wet meadows, shores, springs, wet cliffs, peatlands, and swamps.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex mertensii – Mertens' sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Alberta and western Montana.
Habitat: Wet, open or shaded areas from the lowlands to near timberline
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Alberta and western Montana.
Habitat: Wet, open or shaded areas from the lowlands to near timberline
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex micropoda – timberline sedge
Distribution: Occurring in the Cascades Range and Olympic Mountains in Washington; Alaska to northeastern Oregon, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Subalpine and alpine dry or moist, rocky meadows and slopes, ledges, talus, and scree.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring in the Cascades Range and Olympic Mountains in Washington; Alaska to northeastern Oregon, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Subalpine and alpine dry or moist, rocky meadows and slopes, ledges, talus, and scree.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex microptera – small-winged sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Yukon Territory 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 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: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains.
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: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains.
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
Distribution: Occurring in the Cascades Range and Olympic Mountains in Washington; Washington to California, east to Montana and Colorado.
Habitat: Alpine wet meadows, springs, stream banks, peatlands
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring in the Cascades Range and Olympic Mountains in Washington; Washington to California, east to Montana and Colorado.
Habitat: Alpine wet meadows, springs, stream banks, peatlands
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex nigricans – black alpine sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Alpine and subalpine moist meadows, snowmelt channels, depressions, talus, and shores.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Alpine and subalpine moist meadows, snowmelt channels, depressions, talus, and shores.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex nudata – torrent sedge
Distribution: Occurring along the Cascades crest in south-central Washington; Washington to California.
Habitat: Below high water mark on cobble and ledges in rocky streambeds, occasional in irrigation canals.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring along the Cascades crest in south-central Washington; Washington to California.
Habitat: Below high water mark on cobble and ledges in rocky streambeds, occasional in irrigation canals.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex obnupta – slough sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly 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 chiefly 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 obtusata – blunt sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in the Olympic Mountains in Washington; Alaska to Washington, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, and Great Lakes region.
Habitat: Subalpine and alpine dry or moist meadows, fellfields, and scree.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in the Olympic Mountains in Washington; Alaska to Washington, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, and Great Lakes region.
Habitat: Subalpine and alpine dry or moist meadows, fellfields, and scree.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex pachycarpa – furrowed broomsedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to Idaho and Nevada.
Habitat: Dry to mesic meadows, open forest, and rocky slopes, often in partial shade.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to Idaho and Nevada.
Habitat: Dry to mesic meadows, open forest, and rocky slopes, often in partial shade.
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 pallescens – pale green sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to southwestern Washington, east to northern Idaho and western Montana.
Habitat: Wet meadows, ditches, pastures, and stream banks.
Origin: Introduced from eastern North America and Eurasia
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to southwestern Washington, east to northern Idaho and western Montana.
Habitat: Wet meadows, ditches, pastures, and stream banks.
Origin: Introduced from eastern North America and Eurasia
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex pansa – sand sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington along coastal areas; British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Dunes, meadows, and other open areas along the coast.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington along coastal areas; British Columbia 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: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in north-central Washington; Alaska to Washington, Idaho, and Nevada, east to the Rocky Mountains, east across Canada to Ontario.
Habitat: Alkaline shores, mudflats, alluvium, and wet meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in north-central Washington; Alaska to Washington, Idaho, and Nevada, east to the Rocky Mountains, east across Canada to Ontario.
Habitat: Alkaline shores, mudflats, alluvium, and wet meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
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; Alaska to California, east across most of North America to the Atlantic Coast.
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; Alaska to California, east across most of North America to the Atlantic Coast.
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 petasata – Liddon's sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Northwest Territory, Saskatoon, and the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Dry to moist slopes and meadows, riparian areas, open forest, often among sagebrush.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Northwest Territory, Saskatoon, and the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Dry to moist slopes and meadows, riparian areas, open forest, often among sagebrush.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex phaeocephala – mountain hare sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Alberta, Montana, and Colorado.
Habitat: Subalpine and alpine talus, rocky slopes, and dry meadows.
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, Montana, and Colorado.
Habitat: Subalpine and alpine talus, rocky slopes, and dry meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex pluriflora – black bog sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to northwestern Washington.
Habitat: Peatlands, wet meadows, and shores.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to northwestern Washington.
Habitat: Peatlands, wet meadows, and shores.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex praeceptorum – teacher's sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.
Habitat: Wet meadows, springs, shores, and peatlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.
Habitat: Wet meadows, springs, shores, and peatlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex praegracilis – clustered field sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Great Plains; also introduced from Wisconsin to Missouri, east to the Atlantic.
Habitat: Wet to seasonally moist meadows, shores, springs, vernal pools, ditches, and dredgings, tolerant of alkali or road salt.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Great Plains; also introduced from Wisconsin to Missouri, east to the Atlantic.
Habitat: Wet to seasonally moist meadows, shores, springs, vernal pools, ditches, and dredgings, tolerant of alkali or road salt.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex praticola – northern meadow sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the northern Great Plains, then scattered further east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Seasonally damp to mesic meadows, open forest, riparian areas, springs, and disturbed ground at low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the northern Great Plains, then scattered further east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Seasonally damp to mesic meadows, open forest, riparian areas, springs, and disturbed ground at low to middle elevations.
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 – potato chip sedge, Smoky Mountain sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; also in Idaho and California.
Habitat: Alpine dry, rocky slopes and ridges, occasionally in montane openings.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; also in Idaho and California.
Habitat: Alpine dry, rocky slopes and ridges, occasionally in montane openings.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-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 retrorsa – retrorse sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to Oregon, east to the Rocky Mountains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America.
Habitat: Marshes, shores, swamps, floodplains, wet meadows, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to Oregon, east to the Rocky Mountains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America.
Habitat: Marshes, shores, swamps, floodplains, wet meadows, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex rossii – Ross' sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, and Great Lakes region.
Habitat: Open forest, meadows, burns, ledges, from lowland to alpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, and Great Lakes region.
Habitat: Open forest, meadows, burns, ledges, from lowland to alpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex rostrata – northern beaked sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to eastern Washington and Montana, east to Minnesota and Newfoundland; circumboreal.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to eastern Washington and Montana, east to Minnesota and Newfoundland; circumboreal.
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex saxatilis – limestone sedge, russet sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Washington, east across the northern U.S. and Canada to northeastern North America; circumboreal.
Habitat: Peatlands, shores, streams, and wet meadows, sometimes in shallow water.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Washington, east across the northern U.S. and Canada to northeastern North America; circumboreal.
Habitat: Peatlands, shores, streams, and wet meadows, sometimes in shallow water.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex scirpoidea – single-spike sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America.
Habitat: Meadows, peatlands, wet cliffs, shores, high montane snowmelt meadows, fellfields, dry ridges, and shores, sometimes where limy, lowland 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 the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America.
Habitat: Meadows, peatlands, wet cliffs, shores, high montane snowmelt meadows, fellfields, dry ridges, and shores, sometimes where limy, lowland to alpine.
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 scoparia – pointed broomsedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, most of the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, and central and eastern North America.
Habitat: Marshes, wet meadows, seasonal wetlands, shores, wet prairie, springs, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, most of the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, and central and eastern North America.
Habitat: Marshes, wet meadows, seasonal wetlands, shores, wet prairie, springs, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex scopulorum – mountain sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Yukon Territory to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Montane to alpine wet meadows, marshes, shores, stream banks, snowmelt basins, and peatlands.
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 the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Montane to alpine wet meadows, marshes, shores, stream banks, snowmelt basins, and peatlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. bracteosa – Sierra alpine sedge
• var. prionophyllum – firethread sedge
Carex sheldonii – Sheldon's sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in southeastern Washington; southeastern Washington to California, east to Idaho and Nevada.
Habitat: Swales, slow creeks, wet meadows, and openings in riparian forest.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in southeastern Washington; southeastern Washington to California, east to Idaho and Nevada.
Habitat: Swales, slow creeks, wet meadows, and openings in riparian forest.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex siccata – dry-spike sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Yukon Territory and Northwest Territory to Washington, also in the southern Rocky Mountains, east across Canada to the Great Lakes region, and eastern North America.
Habitat: Dry grassland, savanna, and open forest.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Yukon Territory and Northwest Territory to Washington, also in the southern Rocky Mountains, east across Canada to the Great Lakes region, and eastern North America.
Habitat: Dry grassland, savanna, and open forest.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex simulata – analogue sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in central and southern Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Wet meadows, shores, marshes, peatlands, and springs, often where limy or alkaline.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in central and southern Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Wet meadows, shores, marshes, peatlands, and springs, often where limy or alkaline.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex spectabilis – showy sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Alberta, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah.
Habitat: Damp meadows and other wet places, from middle to high elevations in the mountains.
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, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah.
Habitat: Damp meadows and other wet places, from middle to high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex stenoptila – riverbank sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in north-central Washington; Washington to Idaho and Montana.
Habitat: Moist to dry rocky slopes and meadows, open forest, stream banks, and subalpine meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in north-central Washington; Washington to Idaho and Montana.
Habitat: Moist to dry rocky slopes and meadows, open forest, stream banks, and subalpine meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex stipata – awl-fruited sedge, sawbeak sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across most of North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Wet ground, lowlands (especially west of the Cascades) to mid-elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across most of North America to the Atlantic Coast.
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
Distribution: Occurring in the Cascades of southern Washington; southern Washington to California, east to Idaho and Utah.
Habitat: Montane gravel, sand, ash, or pumice meadows, talus, and dry open forest, often near or above timberline.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring in the Cascades of southern Washington; southern Washington to California, east to Idaho and Utah.
Habitat: Montane gravel, sand, ash, or pumice meadows, talus, and dry open forest, often near or above timberline.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex stylosa – long-style sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Washington, also in eastern Canada and Greenland.
Habitat: Peatlands, marshes, moist or wet meadows, shores.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Washington, also in eastern Canada and Greenland.
Habitat: Peatlands, marshes, moist or wet meadows, shores.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex subbracteata – small-bracted sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; introduced from southwestern British Columbia to Lincoln County, Oregon; native from Coos County Oregon to California.
Habitat: Seasonally wet meadows and ditches.
Origin: Introduced from southern Oregon
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; introduced from southwestern British Columbia to Lincoln County, Oregon; native from Coos County Oregon to California.
Habitat: Seasonally wet meadows and ditches.
Origin: Introduced from southern Oregon
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex subfusca – rusty sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to Idaho, Utah, and New Mexico.
Habitat: Wet meadows, riparian zones, shores, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to Idaho, Utah, and New Mexico.
Habitat: Wet meadows, riparian zones, shores, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex sychnocephala – many-headed sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across the northern U.S. and Canada to the Atlantic Coast; disjunct in Colorado.
Habitat: Moist or wet meadows, seasonal wetlands, receding shores, and sandy sloughs.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across the northern U.S. and Canada to the Atlantic Coast; disjunct in Colorado.
Habitat: Moist or wet meadows, seasonal wetlands, receding shores, and sandy sloughs.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex sylvatica – European woodland sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to western Washington.
Habitat: Mesic or moist forest, paths, disturbed meadows, and ditches.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to western Washington.
Habitat: Mesic or moist forest, paths, disturbed meadows, and ditches.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
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
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to northeastern Washington, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, and eastern North America.
Habitat: Riparian zones, wet meadows, marshy shores, damp thickets, and swamps.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to northeastern Washington, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, and eastern North America.
Habitat: Riparian zones, wet meadows, marshy shores, damp thickets, and swamps.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex tenuiflora – sparse-flower sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northern Washington; Alaska to northern Washington, east across the northern U.S. and Canada to the Atlantic Coast; circumboreal.
Habitat: Peatlands and wet meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northern Washington; Alaska to northern Washington, east across the northern U.S. and Canada to the Atlantic Coast; circumboreal.
Habitat: Peatlands and wet meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex tribuloides – tribulation sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in lowland western Washington; southwestern British Columbia to western Oregon; native to central and eastern North America.
Habitat: Ditches, marshes, wet meadows, wet thickets, receding shorelines, and freshwater intertidal shores.
Origin: Introduced from central and eastern North America
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in lowland western Washington; southwestern British Columbia to western Oregon; native to central and eastern North America.
Habitat: Ditches, marshes, wet meadows, wet thickets, receding shorelines, and freshwater intertidal shores.
Origin: Introduced from central and eastern North America
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. tribuloides – blunt broom sedge
Carex tumulicola – foothill sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Mesic to seasonally wet meadows, open for, sea bluffs, grassy slopes, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Mesic to seasonally wet meadows, open for, sea bluffs, grassy slopes, and ditches.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex unilateralis – one-sided sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in lowland western Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Wet prairie remnants, and swales.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in lowland western Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Wet prairie remnants, and swales.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex utriculata – beaked sedge, inflated sedge, Northwest Territory sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America.
Habitat: Shores, often in shallow water, swamps, marshes, peatlands, and wet meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America.
Habitat: Shores, often in shallow water, swamps, marshes, peatlands, and wet meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex vallicola – valley sedge
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northern Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains.
Habitat: Dry to mesic grassy slopes, open forest, riparian zones, sagebrush desert.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northern Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains.
Habitat: Dry to mesic grassy slopes, open forest, riparian zones, sagebrush desert.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex vernacula – foetid sedge
Distribution: Occurring in the Cascade Mountains in Washington; southern Washington to California, east to Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado.
Habitat: Moist to wet slopes, snowmelt basins, springs, and shores in the subalpine to alpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring in the Cascade Mountains in Washington; southern Washington to California, east to Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado.
Habitat: Moist to wet slopes, snowmelt basins, springs, and shores in the subalpine to alpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex vesicaria – inflated sedge, oxbow sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Swales, wet meadows, shores, seasonal pools, and peatlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Swales, wet meadows, shores, seasonal pools, and peatlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex viridula – green sedge
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America.
Habitat: Shores, marshes, peatlands, dunes, hollows, hot springs, often where limy, or saline soils.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America.
Habitat: Shores, marshes, peatlands, dunes, hollows, hot springs, often where limy, or saline soils.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. viridula – greenish sedge, little green sedge
Carex vulpinoidea – fox sedge
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest and in the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; southern British Columbia to Oregon, east to the Atlantic Coast; introduced in California and Nevada.
Habitat: Marshes and standing water at low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest and in the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; southern British Columbia to Oregon, east to the Atlantic Coast; introduced in California and Nevada.
Habitat: Marshes and standing water at low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Carex zikae – short-stemmed sedge, Zika's sedge
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in lowland western Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Strictly coastal in dunes and headlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in lowland western Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Strictly coastal in dunes and headlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
