Audubon® Native Gray's Sedge

Fun and wicked! Gray’s Sedge is a fascinating little plant that bears the weirdest fruiting structures—they’re puffy and prickly and look like medieval maces! These miniature “weapons” make for interesting additions to fresh or dried arrangements. Better yet, leave them on the plant, and let the birds enjoy the seeds. Game birds such as Ruffed Grouse, wild turkeys, and pheasants enjoy Sedge seeds, as do many songbirds, including Cardinals, Song Sparrows, Redpolls, and Painted Buntings. Ideal for pondside plantings (it loves constant moisture), Gray’s Sedge is also nice in lightly shaded beds and borders. A conversation starter!

Gray’s Sedge’s funny seedpods are not merely ornamental. The seed cases are filled with pockets of air so that they float. Gray’s Sedge often grows near water, and the buoyant pods allow the seeds to drift away and find new homes away from the mother plant. This reproduction strategy has been effective, enabling the species to establish a huge natural range that stretches from Minnesota to Massachusetts and south to Oklahoma and Florida. First identified in the 1800s, Gray’s Sedge was named for celebrated American botanist and Harvard professor, Asa Gray.

You wouldn’t think moths and butterflies would be interested in a plant without nectar-producing flowers, but Gray’s Sedge attracts some of these insects by another means. Its foliage serves as caterpillar food for Virginia ctenucha moths, American ear moths, Appalachian brown butterflies, eyed brown butterflies, and several skippers.

Audubon is devoted to protecting birds and the places they need, while Bower & Branch is devoted to the growth of true native trees and plants–no cultivars or hybrids. Together, we strive to unite communities in conservation and inspire individuals to cultivate a better world for birds starting in their own backyards, balconies, or patios. By guiding and recommending trees and plants truly native and beneficial to your region, we can really start to make a difference.

What is the definition of Native?

“In the United States, a native plant is defined as one that was naturally found in a particular area before European colonization. Native plants are the foundation of a region’s biodiversity, providing essential food sources and shelter for birds, especially those threatened by the changing climate. Since native plants are adapted to local precipitation and soil conditions, they generally require less upkeep, therefore helping the environment and saving you time, water, and money.” – The National Audubon Society

Learn how you can help birds in your home and community through Audubon’s Plants for Birds program.

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