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Lance-fruited Oval Sedge

Carex scoparia

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Category
Grass / Sedge / Rush
Sun
Full
Soil moisture
Wet to Medium
Bloom time
Jun–Jul
Notes
Cool

About Lance-fruited Oval Sedge

Lance-fruited Oval Sedge, often called Broom Sedge, is a sun-loving wetland specialist that brings both ecological value and visual interest to the landscape. This clumping perennial typically reaches one to three feet in height, featuring bright green foliage and distinctive, pointed seed clusters that resemble the head of a broom. These 'lance-fruited' spikes transition from green to a rich tan as they mature from May to July. Native to a wide variety of wet habitats across nearly all of North America, it is a highly adaptable species that thrives in full sun and moist to wet soils. It is a vital host plant for several species of moths and skippers, and its seeds are a favorite food for waterfowl, songbirds, and turtles. Its ability to establish quickly and tolerate fluctuating water levels makes it an outstanding choice for rain gardens, bioswales, and shoreline stabilization.

Native range

Native to 46 states:

AlabamaArkansasArizonaCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutD.C.DelawareGeorgiaIowaIdahoIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMassachusettsMarylandMaineMichiganMinnesotaMissouriMississippiMontanaNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNebraskaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeUtahVirginiaVermontWashingtonWisconsinWest VirginiaWyoming

County range map

BONAP county-level native range map for Carex scoparia

Range map courtesy of BONAP (Biota of North America Program).

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