Native Plants
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Carex texensis
Carex texensis (Torr.) L.H. Bailey
Texas Sedge
Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)
Synonym(s): Carex retroflexa var. texensis
USDA Symbol: CATE7
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
Texas Sedge, one of the most common sedges in central Texas, is a good turf substitute for dry to moist shade, colonizing densely by rhizomes. Its fine-textured foliage mixes nicely with other small, shade-loving plants like Cedar Sage (Salvia roemeriana), Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila phacelioides), and White Avens (Geum canadense) to create a serene woodland garden. It can be mowed at a high setting.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Linear
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Leaf Texture: Smooth
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Inflorescence: Spikelet
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 1 foot tall.
Leaf: Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Yellow , Green , BrownBloom Time: Mar , Apr , May
Bloom Notes: Perianth absent. Bloom time refers to fruiting period for Carex spp.
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , DC , GA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NE , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WVNative Distribution: Much of the eastern US, from New York south to Georgia and west to Oklahoma and Texas
Native Habitat: Sandy woodlands and savannas, particularly in Post Oak (Quercus stellata) woods.
Growing Conditions
Water Use: MediumLight Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Moist, well-drained sands mostly, but adaptable to many soils
Conditions Comments: Likes the moist, sandy soils of Post Oak (Quercus stellata) woodlands. The more moisture it gets, the taller it gets.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: A good shade groundcover for naturalizing and landscape restoration, particularly in sandy areas under Post Oaks (Quercus stellata).Interesting Foliage: yes
Deer Resistant: High
Propagation
Propagation Material: Root Division , SeedsCommercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Can be mowed on high settings if it gets too tall for your tastes.
Mr. Smarty Plants says
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August 07, 2008
I have built a home on a very steep lot (approx 1 1/2 acres)in Northern Central Tenn in Jackson County. The lot is too steep to mow and some of it is too steep to stand on comfortably. My question is...
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January 09, 2008
I have several acres of wooded land in Northeast Texas, Southern Lamar County. Both sandy and black land. I have created trails through the woods and would like to plant a native ground cover or gras...
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Sedges and ornamentals for shade in Bastrop County
June 20, 2007
I bought a home in Elgin, TX that was owned by an elderly woman. Most of
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From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
Bibliography
Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, SallyBibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Carex texensis in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Carex texensis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Carex texensis
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-10-19Research By: TWC Staff