Mertens' Sedge
Carex mertensii
- Native to:
- Canada, Japan, Kuril Is., United States
Ivar Leidus
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Cyperaceae
- Genus:
- Carex
- Species:
- Carex mertensii
- USDA Symbol:
- CAME6
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Common in wet meadows and forested wetlands
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–45 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination. Best sown on the surface of moist soil after cold stratification.
Pre-treatment: Wash seeds for 12 hours in cold, running water before planting
Establishment: Seedling emergence can be slow and spotty; initial vigor is only fair. Seeds are collected by hand when they start to shatter in late August, September. Seeds are brown. The plant is found in the Pacific Northwest and northern California, north to Alaska, Idaho and Montana, often in open areas growing with Lupinus latifolius and other forbs along roadsides.
Source: npn.rngr.net