Grasses/Sedges/Rushes

A shorter woodland grass with attractively arched leaves and a spreading (not bunching) habit, perfect for filing out shady understory or as green ...

A.k.a. turkeyfoot. A tall, adaptable prairie grass that hosts a wide variety of insects, including many skippers. Favored by a wide variety of graz...

A.k.a. turkeyfoot. A tall, adaptable prairie grass that hosts a wide variety of insects, including many skippers. Favored by a wide variety of graz...

An adaptable woodland grass that grows even in deep shade. Easily recognizable by its seed heads in the later half of the year. Light: Part Sun/Sha...

An evergreen sedge partial to wetlands and woodlands. The spiky seed pod is easy to spot in stands of wetland plants, and the seeds are regularly e...

An evergreen sedge partial to wetlands and woodlands. The spiky seed pod is easy to spot in stands of wetland plants, and the seeds are regularly e...

This hardy grass grows quickly and spreads easily from seed, making it an excellent candidate to fill space in new plantings while slower growing s...

A.k.a. red-based spike-rush. An adaptable, mat forming rush with a broad range. It’s small stature and dense growth make it an ideal species to pla...

A wetland sedge that tolerates occasional standing water. Requires constant moisture when growing in full sun. Light: Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade Soil...

A taller rush that is visibly darker in color than other local rushes. Perfect for adding visual interest to wetland plantings, filling ditches, an...

A.k.a. troublesome sedge. This hardy sedge is closely related to, and difficult to distinguish from, prairie oval sedge (Carex bicknellii) and plai...

A robust, adaptable sedge with a clumped form that makes it ideal for landscape borders. Spreads well in disturbed habitats, so is well suited for ...

A shorter, unassuming sedge that nevertheless feeds many species of birds and insects. Tends to spread by rhizomes and form small colonies. Light: ...

This standup grass is often planted for winter interest, as its tall seed stalks that remain upright longer into the winter than big bluestem. The ...

This standup grass is often planted for winter interest, as its tall seed stalks that remain upright longer into the winter than big bluestem. The ...

A shorter grass that is often planted for it’s spikey seed heads, and generally does not form dense stands. Puts on growth earlier than most prairi...

The cornerstone of dry shortgrass plantings itself! Stays short, but fills dry plantings well. Adapts to most soil textures, but will not tolerate ...

The cornerstone of dry shortgrass plantings itself! Stays short, but fills dry plantings well. Adapts to most soil textures, but will not tolerate ...

A.k.a. wild oats, inland oats, and river oats. A lovely grass for shady areas, it’s distinctive seed heads are easily spotted and last into the win...

A.k.a. Pennsylvania sedge. A short sedge coveted for its ability to form colonies in shady and dry conditions! Primarily spreads by runners, but ma...

A.k.a. muskingum sedge*. A distinctive, showy, fairly tall sedge that hosts several species of moth, butterfly, and skipper! Prefers part sun/shade...

A short, bunching rush known for persisting in marginal conditions. Tolerant of clay soil, mild to moderate foot traffic and compaction, and some d...

A.k.a. Short-beaked sedge. This bunching sedge is closely related to, and difficult to distinguish from, prairie oval sedge (Carex bicknellii) and...

A smaller wetland sedge named for the prickly appearance of its seed heads. Very similar in appearance to other “bottlebrush sedges” such that iden...