Native Plants

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Thursday - November 12, 2009

From: Kensington, MD
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Clearing up the nativity of so-called Baltimore sedge (Carex senta)
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Dear Smarty Pants: Hi, did you ever get more clarity on the Carex senta issue (baltimore sedge)? Whether or not it was a wetland grass? I too am in Maryland and was thinking of planting it for a lawn, but not if it's only native way out west. If you have any other recommendation for a shade-loving native for a lawn, that would be wonderful. thanks in advance.

ANSWER:

Carex senta (swamp carex) according to the USDA Plants Database is native to Arizona, New Mexico and California and according to the Flora of North America it grows along streams and in wet meadows in Arizona, California, and Mexico—not New Mexico. Someone apparently misidentified a sedge in New Mexico as C. senta when it was really Carex stricta (upright sedge). You obviously have read our previous question and answer concerning Carex senta but we still do not know why it is called 'Baltimore sedge' by some sources. USDA Plants Database says its common name is 'swamp carex' and Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) gives its common name as 'swamp carex' or 'swamp sedge'. Flora of North America didn't assign it a common name. If you have read Sedge Lawns for Every Landscape by John Greenlee (and I suspect you have), you know that he calls it 'Baltimore sedge', but we have no idea where he got the common name. The bottom line, however, is that Carex senta is not native to Maryland, despite its sometimes common name. We can, however, suggest some other shade-loving plants for lawns that are native to Maryland:

SEDGES AND GRASSES:

Carex blanda (eastern woodland sedge) and here are more photos and information and still more.

Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania sedge) and here are more photos and information and still more.

Muhlenbergia schreberi (nimblewill)

Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats), wouldn't be considered a turf grass, but it is very attractive even after seed heads have set.

Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass) is a tall attractive clumping grass.

GROUNDCOVER-TYPE WOODY AND HERBACEOUS PLANTS:

Gaultheria procumbens (eastern teaberry) evergreen.

Cornus canadensis (bunchberry dogwood)

Geum canadense (white avens) evergreen.

Linnaea borealis (twinflower) evergreen.

Mitchella repens (partridgeberry) evergreen.