Whether you want to fill in patchy spots under trees, find a native substitute for Kentucky bluegrass, or ditch the lawn mower completely, wood's sedge is up to the task. It's similar to the more well-known Pennsylvania sedge (C. pennsylvanica) but forms a denser mat of foliage that's superior at suppressing weeds. The fine-textured foliage of wood’s sedge is an attractive blue-green color in spring before changing to green as the temperatures increase in summer. Multitudes of straw-colored flowers provide additional interest April through May. Although it thrives in shade, trials conducted by Mt. Cuba Center determined that wood's sedge is an excellent choice for lawns, even in sun. In the trials, it was planted in sun and shade and mowed twice a month. It was "exceptionally adaptable to full sun" and formed a dense mat that was effective at suppressing weeds. But there's no need to mow if you simply want a lush carpet that can handle light foot traffic. And, as the name suggests, it's an exceptional groundcover for woodlands, which are its typical home in the midwestern and eastern US. 
 
Use as an edger in shade gardens or as a groundcover for shady areas. As a semi-evergreen plant, it provides winter interest. Plant en masse for a rippling effect. Use in water-wise landscapes and native gardens.
 
Plant Characteristics:
Grows 6-14" tall.
 
Prefers full or part shade but tolerates sun with supplemental moisture.
 
Grows in moist to dry, well-drained soils, including clay. Tolerant of drought in shade. 
 
Upright, golden spikelets with white or purplish scales appear in early to mid-spring.  The perigynia on the pistillate flower are oval to rounded with a beakless tip. After flowering, yellowish brown seed clusters appear and are dispersed by late spring or early summer.
 
Leaves are alternate and flat. Leaves of flowering stems are all near the base, erect to ascending, and very short. The arching blades of non-flowering stems are up to 10" long.
 
Base of stem has a red sheath.
 
Reproductive System: Male and female flowers are on the same plant (monoecious). The female flowers develop first to reduce instances of self-pollination, but self-pollination is common in Carex species. 
 
Wildlife Value: 
Provides cover and shelter for insects and mollusks. Attracts pollinators, although the majority of sedges are pollinated by wind. The seeds are eaten by birds and mammals. Deer tend to ignore the plant.
 
Resources:
Mt. Cuba Center: https://issuu.com/mtcuba/docs/22034-carex_report-final121922?fr=sMWI3ZDU2ODU5NjY
 
Minnesota Wildflowers: https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/grass-sedge-rush/pretty-sedge
 
New Moon Nursery: https://newmoonnursery.com/nursery-plants/carex-woodii/
 
NJ.gov: https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/natural/heritage/docs/carex-woodii-woods-sedge.pdf