Slenderbeak Sedge
Carex athrostachya
- Native to:
- Canada, Mexico, United States
Ivar Leidus
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Cyperaceae
- Genus:
- Carex
- Species:
- Carex athrostachya
- USDA Symbol:
- CAAT3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 90 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from rhizomes after fire. Common in fire-maintained wet meadows and prairie wetland margins.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, nutrient-rich, organic soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found in wet meadows and marshes
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–45 days
- Notes:
- Seeds benefit from cold-moist stratification and light exposure during germination. Fresh seed germinates better than stored seed.
Pre-treatment: Sow seeds onto a fine textured commercial peat-lite mix with high water holding capacity. Allow them to imbibe water overnight in a warm location, then move to a cooler for a cold moist chilling of 60 to 90 days.
Establishment: This species appears to require warmer germination temperatures. Germination appeared to be very uniform. Seeds are collected in early October and stored in paper bags prior to cleaning.
Source: npn.rngr.net