Cherokee Sedge

Carex cherokeensis

native · Central Texas

Cherokee Sedge is a grass native to Central Texas that grows 2–2.5 ft tall and 1 ft wide. It wants full sun or part shade and medium water. Blooms not applicable in Apr–Jun. Evergreen — it holds its leaves through winter. Deer rarely browse it. Good for birds, butterflies and moths.

Wet ground only. Usually found in wetlands and creek bottoms. It wants reliably moist ground and struggles in a dry upland bed.

Will it grow in your yard?

Enter your ZIP. The finder checks Cherokee Sedge against your microclimate, then ranks it against your sun, your watering and deer pressure.

The facts

5 sources

Type: Grass
Sun: Full sun to part shade (3–6 hrs of direct sun)
Water: Medium
Height: 2–2.5 ft
Spread: 1 ft
Bloom: Apr–Jun · not applicable
Foliage: Evergreen
Soil: Recorded on loam, moist, sand, well drained
Deer: High — deer rarely browse it
Wildlife: Supports birds, butterflies and moths

Where it grows

Recorded in these EPA Level IV ecoregions in the Austin and Hill Country launch area:

Northern Blackland PrairieSouthern Post Oak SavannaFloodplains and Low TerracesSan Antonio Prairie

129 occurrence records in Central Texas (GBIF).

Can you buy it?

Also grows here — hard to find. Native and recorded growing in Central Texas, but not on the grower stock lists we read. Sourcing varies: some are stocked widely, others you will have to hunt for.

also grows from seed It starts readily from seed, so a packet from a native-seed supplier, or seed collected with permission, is often the easiest way to get a plant no nursery pots.