Broad-Winged Sedge (Carex alata)
Carex alata, commonly known as Broad-Winged Sedge, is a native perennial sedge found in wet meadows, marshes, and along streambanks in Illinois. It thrives in moist to wet soils and prefers full sun to partial shade.
This plant features narrow, grass-like leaves and produces distinctive, airy seed heads that appear in late spring to early summer. Its seeds provide a food source for birds, while its dense root system helps stabilize soil and prevent erosion in wetland habitats.
For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Carex alata is a valuable addition to rain gardens, wetland restorations, and naturalized landscapes, offering erosion control, habitat support, and year-round texture in moist environments.
Carex alata, commonly known as Broad-Winged Sedge, is a native perennial sedge found in wet meadows, marshes, and along streambanks in Illinois. It thrives in moist to wet soils and prefers full sun to partial shade.
This plant features narrow, grass-like leaves and produces distinctive, airy seed heads that appear in late spring to early summer. Its seeds provide a food source for birds, while its dense root system helps stabilize soil and prevent erosion in wetland habitats.
For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Carex alata is a valuable addition to rain gardens, wetland restorations, and naturalized landscapes, offering erosion control, habitat support, and year-round texture in moist environments.
Carex alata, commonly known as Broad-Winged Sedge, is a native perennial sedge found in wet meadows, marshes, and along streambanks in Illinois. It thrives in moist to wet soils and prefers full sun to partial shade.
This plant features narrow, grass-like leaves and produces distinctive, airy seed heads that appear in late spring to early summer. Its seeds provide a food source for birds, while its dense root system helps stabilize soil and prevent erosion in wetland habitats.
For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Carex alata is a valuable addition to rain gardens, wetland restorations, and naturalized landscapes, offering erosion control, habitat support, and year-round texture in moist environments.
Bloom: spring
Habitats: fens; marshes; meadows; swamps
Lifespan: perennial
Moisture: wet to moist
Plant type (height): sedge (up to 3 feet)
Requirements: full sun to partial sun
Soil: limestone; non-acidic substrate