Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants

See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

rate this answer

Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - June 24, 2015

From: Dallas, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Diseases and Disorders, Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Need help with dying clumps of Cedar Sedge
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

Carex planostachys. This grass was planted 2 years ago in light shade. It grew well until this year. Now some clumps are dying. Others in same area look fine. No insects can be detected. Why are some plants dying?

ANSWER:

Other questions to ask that may help answer the first one are; Has the growing environment changed? How are the conditions around the growing clumps different from those around the dying clumps?

Take a look at the NPIN page for Carex planostachys Carex planostachys (Cedar sedge), and note its native habitat and growing conditions. How do they compare with where you are growing your Cedar Sedge?

For some help closer to home, you could contact the folks at the Dallas Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT).

You may also find this article, “Sedge Lawns for Every Landscape” ,from the Brooklyn Botanical Garden interesting.

From the Image Gallery

Cedar sedge
Carex planostachys