This fine-textured perennial forms dense clumps in moist, shady woodlands in eastern and central North America. In spring, the clump appears to shimmer with fiber optic wires as stiff flower stalks bearing tiny, star-like flowers make their debut. Although it doesn't form colonies, eastern star sedge is a great ground cover for soggy and shady areas. The dead flower stalks tend to flatten the foliage, but they can be removed for a cleaner look, or you can wait for new foliage to grow in during the summer. If the clump develops a hollow center, lift and divide the plant. Eastern star sedge excels in dappled light or medium shade, so it's the perfect candidate for shady rain gardens or underplanting perennials. Because it performed fairly well in mowing trials and is deer resistant, it can also be used as a lawn substitute.

Native habitats include moist to mesic deciduous or mixed woods, floodplain forests, pond edges, wetland margins, and, less often, open areas. Use in borders, woodlands, rain gardens, on banks of water features, and in moist or wet areas.

Plant Characteristics:

Grows 1-2' tall and a little wider.

Prefers dappled or medium shade.

Prefers rich, loamy, consistently moist to medium soils but adapts to clay or sandier soils. Tolerates wet conditions.

Blooms in June with floral spikes about 1½"–3" long, consisting of 3-8 spikelets. Each spikelet consists of a tight cluster of 1-9 perigynia that spread open to form green, star-like flowers. Fruits are dry, one-seeded achenes

Reproductive System: male and female parts are on each plant (monoecious). On uppermost spike, male (staminate) flowers are above, or intermixed with, female (carpellate) flowers.

Wildlife Value:

Seeds are a food source for small mammals, ducks, grouse, wild turkeys, and song birds. Foliage provides cover and nesting sites. Deer resistant.

Medicinal, Edible, and Other Uses:

The Goshute used the roots as medicine. Blackfoot put Carex in moccasins to protect their feet during winter. Cherokee used a leaf infusion for their bowels.

The young leaves are edible. The Navajo ground the seeds into a mush.

Some Native American nations have used sedges for making torches and for weaving baskets and rope.

Resources:

Go Botany

https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/carex/radiata/

Illinois Wildflowers

https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/grasses/plants/star_sedge.htm

Minnesota Wildflowers

https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/grass-sedge-rush/eastern-star-sedge

Mt. Cuba Center

https://mtcubacenter.org/trials/carex-for-the-mid-atlantic-region/carex-radiata/

North Carolina Extension