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Clustered Field Sedge

Carex praegracilis

true

1 Gallon

Clustered Field Sedge

In stock

2-4'x4'

Sizes:

Clustered Field Sedge — Carex praegracilis

Also known as: Field Sedge, Prairie Sedge, Lawn Sedge

Clustered Field Sedge is a tough, fine-textured sedge native to much of western North America, especially the foothill grasslands, meadows, and wash margins of California’s interior and high desert regions. It is naturally found in transitional zones and edges of the Mojave Desert, including washes, seasonally wet flats, and disturbed areas—but it is not native to the lower Colorado Desert. While it can survive there with irrigation, it is better suited to higher elevation or milder desert sites with cool-season moisture.

This sedge grows 6 to 12 inches tall and slowly spreads by underground rhizomes, forming a soft, bright green carpet. It tolerates light foot traffic and mowing, making it an increasingly popular choice for lawn replacement, median strips, and meadow-style plantings.

Though it naturally grows in moist settings, Carex praegracilis is remarkably drought-tolerant once established. It stays green with occasional deep watering, but may go partially dormant during extreme summer heat without supplemental moisture. It prefers full sun to part shade and adapts to a wide range of soils, including alkaline and clay conditions.

In spring, it produces slender flower spikes that are wind-pollinated and subtle in appearance, but provide pollen for small insects and seeds for birds. The dense foliage offers shelter and foraging ground for wildlife and helps control erosion on slopes and bioswales.

Wildlife Value

Host Plant: —
Nectar Source: Not a nectar source; pollen for native bees and flies
Bird Resources: Seeds; Insects; Ground Shelter
Bird Species: White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys); California Towhee (Melozone crissalis); Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Plant Care

Native region:

Mojave Desert

Water needs:

Moderate

Exposure:

Full Sun; Filtered Sun

Mature size:

2-4'x4'

Growth rate:

Moderate

Flower color:

Flower season:

Spring

Pruning:

None

Cold Hardiness:

-5 Degrees

Nectar-producing:

Attracts pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Butterflies or Moths:

Monarchs:

Larval host:

Bees:

Yes

Bats:

Birds:

Yes

Nest site:

Nest materials:

Rabbit-resistant:

Yes

Tortoises:

Growing Plants in the Desert — Important Information

The information presented here is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and based on reliable research, personal experience in my own garden, observations from other gardens I’ve visited, and time spent studying plants in their native habitats. I always welcome your feedback and experiences to help me continue educating others!

Cacti:
In my experience, cacti are much happier in filtered shade here in the low desert of the Coachella Valley. Their colors are more vibrant and they tend to bloom more profusely, especially the non-native varieties. If you look closely at how our native barrel cactus and beavertail prickly pear grow in the wild, you’ll often find them tucked among rocks or beneath the shelter of creosote and other shrubs.

⚠️ A note of caution: Cacti and succulents are often illegally collected from the wild, which not only damages plant populations but also disturbs entire ecosystems. In some cases, wild populations of cacti have even gone extinct because of this practice. When purchasing these plants, always be sure they’ve been legally obtained. Look for nursery-grown stock or plants with a native plant certification, and keep that documentation for your records.

Light Requirements:
In our desert (Sonoran/Colorado), “full sun” doesn’t always mean what you might think. Many so-called full-sun plants benefit from and actually appreciate some late-afternoon filtered light—especially during the intense summer months.