Cyperaceae
Bird-foot sedge
Carex ornithopoda
Also known as Carex ornithopoda, Bird's foot sedge, Crow-foot sedge, Carex digitata subsp. ornithopoda
Native Plants · Sedge · Compact · Rock Garden · Shade Tolerant · Woodland · Perennial · Ornamental · Edging Plant · Cyperaceae · European Native
Bird-foot sedge is a compact, clump-forming perennial sedge named for its distinctive, bird-foot-shaped flower clusters that appear in late spring. It thrives in shaded or semi-shaded spots with reliably moist, well-drained soil and makes a charming edging plant or rock garden specimen in European-style gardens. Very little maintenance is required beyond removing old leaves in early spring to let the fresh foliage emerge cleanly.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 3 hours
- Watering
- Water to maintain evenly moist soil; reduce watering frequency once well established in shade · Every 7-14 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 6–7
- Temperature
- -20°F to 85°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed, Cutting
Hardiness
USDA 5a-10b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 12 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Albania, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Central European Rus, Corse, Czechoslovakia, East European Russia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, North European Russi, Northwest European R, Norway, Poland, Romania
- Attracts
- Birds, Butterflies
Sources: trefle, usda
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