This is a native plant, but it is not available in the 2026 Wild Ones plant sale.
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Bicknell's Sedge
Carex bicknellii
SedgeBicknell's Sedge
Carex bicknellii
Tap to flip backGrowing Conditions
Light
Full Sun
Water
Dry – Medium
Soil
Any
Size
1-3'
Bloom
Green, May–Jun
Why Grow It
Deer Resistant
Great for gardens without fencing
Drought Tolerant
Thrives with little water once established
Erosion Control
Deep roots stabilize slopes & banks
Wildlife Food
Berries & seeds feed birds and wildlife
Did You Know?
Sedges can make up as much as a quarter of all plant residents in a tallgrass prairie, and Bicknell's sedge is one of the few sedges that naturally grow in prairies.
The genus name Carex comes from Latin meaning 'cutter,' referring to the sharp leaf and stem edges — remember the saying 'rushes are round but sedges have edges.'
Its seeds are eaten by upland gamebirds and songbirds including Pheasants, Prairie Chickens, and various Sparrows.
Wildlife Value
🐦
Sparrows & Juncos
Seed-eating songbirds forage seed heads
🦗
Grasshoppers
Several species feed on foliage
🐔
Upland Game Birds
Pheasants and prairie chickens eat seeds
Good Companions
🌾 Little Bluestem
🌼 Black-eyed Susan
💜 Wild Bergamot
🌿 Pennsylvania Sedge
Planting Guide
- Sow seed or plant plugs in dry to mesic, well-drained soil.
- Choose a full-sun to part-sun location for best growth.
- Minimal watering after establishment; tolerates poor soils.
Plant Details
Made with ♥ by Lu Li