Turf Sedge

Sun or partial shade. Nearly evergreen, with a glossy, tousled appearance and a plush texture underfoot. Native sedges superficially resemble turfgrass, but outperform them in dry shaded areas. Mowing and watering typically aren’t needed at all, depending on the species. Planted as a plugs, sedge naturalizes easily, especially in sandy soil. Combine it with small perennials to soften hardscapes and liven up roughs and background native areas. A fairly recent introduction to the local landscape trade, sedge has generated interest as a native and drought-hardy turf substitute. Many local landscapers obtain plugs from Austin nurseries where it is more commonly available under a variety of names. Texas sedge may grow up to 10 inches; Webberville (Meadow) Sedge is an even shorter variety collected near Austin and now rebranded as “turf sedge” (now believed to be a separate species, Carex perdentata.) Don’t confuse the native sedges with purple nutsedge (“nutgrass”), which isn’t closely related.