IMG_9860.jpeg
In this image Carex radiata is in the back and Carex rosea, with its wider leaves, is just showing over the edge of the photo.
Two eastern star sedge (Carex radiata) that have flopped wide open by mid-May
Eastern Star Sedge (Carex radiata) is in the background under yellow pimpernel flowers.
IMG_9860.jpeg
In this image Carex radiata is in the back and Carex rosea, with its wider leaves, is just showing over the edge of the photo.
Two eastern star sedge (Carex radiata) that have flopped wide open by mid-May
Eastern Star Sedge (Carex radiata) is in the background under yellow pimpernel flowers.

Eastern Star Sedge (Carex radiata)

from $3.50

Eastern Star Sedge, also known as Straight-styled Wood Sedge (see ‘Additional Info’), is a fine leaved sedge that has become more popular in recent years.

It has a look-alike sedge called Curly-styled Wood Sedge or Rosy Sedge (Carex rosea) and there is more information about these two in the Additional Info below. One of the photos (I’ll call it #2, but I’m not sure what order they will come up in, has 2 Carex radiata in the background and 1 Carex rosea in the foreground, just peaking out. If you look closely, you can just see the diference in the width of the leaves.

Eastern Star Sedge prefers to be in the shade of a woodland and doesn’t want its soil to totally dry out.

The arrangement of the perigynia at the top of the plant is where the “star” in the name comes from. Look closely at the photos to see this.

Both this sedge and Rosy Sedge are shorter earlier in the season and then have a tendency, once they reach 24-30 inches, to flop open in all directions. This is apparent in the photos which were taken in mid-May. I admit, the flop of some sedges doesn’t always fit into a more formal garden (though I assure you that wildlife and insects love it), I do like the look of these sedges once they have flopped. It’s up to you to decide if this is for you or not, but I thought I should warn you!

Companion Plants: trillium, Canada violet, marsh marigold, golden ragwort

Eastern Star Sedge (Carex radiata)

Michigan Flora reference page for state distribution: Eastern Star Sedge

Height: 12-30 inches

Soil: moist to mesic loam

Sun: part-shade to shade

Plant spacing: 12-18 inches

Life cycle: perennial

Family: Cyperaceae

Seed source: Michigan

Sizes:

Eastern Star Sedge, also known as Straight-styled Wood Sedge (see ‘Additional Info’), is a fine leaved sedge that has become more popular in recent years.

It has a look-alike sedge called Curly-styled Wood Sedge or Rosy Sedge (Carex rosea) and there is more information about these two in the Additional Info below. One of the photos (I’ll call it #2, but I’m not sure what order they will come up in, has 2 Carex radiata in the background and 1 Carex rosea in the foreground, just peaking out. If you look closely, you can just see the diference in the width of the leaves.

Eastern Star Sedge prefers to be in the shade of a woodland and doesn’t want its soil to totally dry out.

The arrangement of the perigynia at the top of the plant is where the “star” in the name comes from. Look closely at the photos to see this.

Both this sedge and Rosy Sedge are shorter earlier in the season and then have a tendency, once they reach 24-30 inches, to flop open in all directions. This is apparent in the photos which were taken in mid-May. I admit, the flop of some sedges doesn’t always fit into a more formal garden (though I assure you that wildlife and insects love it), I do like the look of these sedges once they have flopped. It’s up to you to decide if this is for you or not, but I thought I should warn you!

Companion Plants: trillium, Canada violet, marsh marigold, golden ragwort

Eastern Star Sedge (Carex radiata)

Michigan Flora reference page for state distribution: Eastern Star Sedge

Height: 12-30 inches

Soil: moist to mesic loam

Sun: part-shade to shade

Plant spacing: 12-18 inches

Life cycle: perennial

Family: Cyperaceae

Seed source: Michigan

Eastern Star Sedge is also called Straight-styled Wood Sedge. Another look-alike sedge is Carex rosea. Carex rosea is known as Rosy Sedge (named after the pinkish color of the stigmas) and also Curly-styled Wood Sedge. This points to a characteristic that can separate the two species. This is a characteristic that is hard to see. That’s because the style usually stays intact for a while coming out of the end of the perigynia, but they are tiny.Then the curly or non-curly must be deciphered, best done with a hand lens or microscope. But, keep in mind that the Straight-styled sedge can be slightly sinuous, which makes the identification extra fun!

Even though Michigan Flora key and description does inform about the different widths of leaves in the two species, it wasn’t until I read about these species on Minnesota Wildflowers—an excellent website for species that are difficult to tell apart—that I was able to see the difference more easily. Essentially, Carex rosea has slightly thicker leaves making the overall look of the plant, stouter. It also has a deeper green color. Cares radiata is very fine leaved and paler green. These sedges can occur together. Both are shorter in the spring, maybe 12-18 inches, but the leaves continue to grow and then both of these sedges have a tendency to flop, so keep this in mind when deciding how to plant it. If you plant to try to identify these sedges in the field, it is helpful to carry a small metric ruler.