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Carex eburnea (Cedar Sedge or Ivory sedge)

Carex eburnea (Cedar Sedge or Ivory sedge)

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Regular price $ 144.00
Regular price Sale price $ 144.00
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.

$30 minimum per species for seed.

Each species requires a minimum of $30 of seed to proceed with checkout.

Pure Live Seed

Seed is provided in Pure Live Seed (PLS) unless otherwise stated.

Pure Live Seed (PLS) refers to the percentage of a seed lot that consists of the desired species and is viable (capable of germination).   

Here's why PLS is crucial for native seeds:

  • Accurate Planting:
    • PLS helps determine the actual number of viable seeds in a given weight or volume of seed.   
    • This ensures you plant the correct amount of seed to achieve the desired density and success rate.   
  • Cost-Effectiveness:
    • By knowing the PLS, you can avoid overspending on seed that may not germinate.
    • This is especially important for native seeds, which can be more expensive than some cultivated varieties.
  • Weed Control:
    • PLS helps minimize the presence of weed seeds within the seed lot.
    • This reduces competition for resources and ensures the successful establishment of the desired native plants.
  • Ecological Restoration:
    • Using high-quality native seeds with a high PLS is essential for successful ecological restoration projects.
    • It helps to re-establish diverse and resilient plant communities that support local wildlife.

Weight Conversions lbs. to oz.

0.01 pounds = 0.16 ounces

  • 0.1 pounds = 1.6 ounces
  • 0.25 pounds  = 4 ounces
  • 0.5 pounds = 8 ounces
  • 0.75 pounds = 12 ounces
  • 1.00 pounds = 16 ounces

Bristle-leaved sedge makes small tufts of exceptionally fine foliage. It is at home among shaded rocks and wooded bluffs, and its light texture works well close to a path where the leaves can be seen.

Sun exposure for Carex eburnea: partial shade; Shade. Soil conditions: dry to moist. Recorded habitats include wooded ridges and bluffs; Mixed forests, especially near cedars on calcareous ground; Cedar thickets; Dunes, occasionally; Fens, occasionally. Reported height: 3 to 12 inches.

Growth habit: forms clumps and can develop colonies through slender rhizomes. Allow space for this growth between neighboring plants over several seasons, rather than spacing only for the size of a young plant.

Plant specifications & ecological relationships

Key growing facts

Sunlight Partial shade; Shade
Soil moisture Dry to moist
Height 3 to 12 inches
Show / hide ▾Growing & planting details
Growth habit Forms clumps and can develop colonies through slender rhizomes
Root form Rhizomes

Plant identification & seed reference

Botanical name Carex eburnea
Other common names ivory sedge
Plant family Cyperaceae

Plant characteristics

Carex eburnea (Cedar Sedge or Ivory sedge) is a short sedge usually coming in at only 6".  A very useful pant for rock gardens and around pavers, and stone to give them the natural look, yet it is a very distinguished tufted look.  Typically found mixed deciduous and conifer forests, in rocky outcroppings, and limestone bluffs in dry soils and semi-shade.

  • Flower Color Green
  • Flower Time May - June
  • Show / hide ▾Plant communities & associates

    Other regional plant communities

    These plants are named with this species in published vegetation accounts. Each list keeps its community and region; some records describe a shared vegetation type rather than neighboring plants in a measured plot. They are ecological records, not a planting recipe, and may include plants unsuitable for a particular garden.

    Show / hide ▾Native range & C-value
    Wetland indicator — NWPL 2022 Midwest FACU
    C-value — Chicago region, Flora 2017 10
    Chicago-region native — Flora 2017 Yes
    Native range — U.S. states Alabama; Alaska; Arkansas; Connecticut; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kentucky; Maine; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Missouri; Montana; Nebraska; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Pennsylvania; South Carolina; South Dakota; Tennessee; Texas; Vermont; Virginia; West Virginia; Wisconsin; Wyoming
    County nativity Not yet verified; occurrence records do not establish nativity.
    Show / hide ▾Pollinators & wildlifeNo verified list yet

    No additional named relationships have been verified for this listing.

    Show / hide ▾Frequently asked questions

    What are the ideal growing conditions for Cedar Sedge or Ivory sedge?
    Carex eburnea performs best in full sun to partial sun with dry (shaded dolomite/limestone cliffs & bluffs) conditions. It thrives in authentic regional soil types ranging from sandy loam to well-drained clay loams.

    How do I germinate and establish Cedar Sedge or Ivory sedge from seed?
    Seed of Carex eburnea has a germination code of C(30). For best results, sow seed in late fall/winter for natural outdoor freeze-thaw stratification, or cold-moist stratify in refrigeration for 30 to 60 days before spring indoor propagation.

    Is Cedar Sedge or Ivory sedge deer and herbivore resistant?
    Yes. Native plants adapted to Midwestern habitats naturally produce protective secondary compounds and fibrous textures that make them highly resistant to deer, rabbits, and other grazing herbivores.

    When should I expect Cedar Sedge or Ivory sedge to emerge and bloom?
    Established plants break dormancy in spring as soil temperatures warm, developing vigorous foliage before blooming in their seasonal window to provide vital nectar when native pollinators need it most.

    Show / hide ▾Sources & ecological notes

    Native range & ecological ratings: Flora of the Chicago Region (2017), via Universal FQA; USACE Chicago FQA (2017); Kew WCVP / Plants of the World Online; USACE National Wetland Plant List.

    Growing conditions & other references: USDA Forest Service: Juniperus virginiana; Minnesota Wildflowers.

    Native range does not identify the origin of the seed or plants offered. Community and wildlife records apply to the locations and conditions described.

    Research notes & credits

    USACE/ERDC fqadata — Chicago Region FQA 2017. Herman, B., Sliwinski, R. & Whitaker, S. (2017), Chicago Region FQA Calculator; distributed by USACE/ERDC in fqadata under CC0. Values may differ from Flora of the Chicago Region (2017). CC0 dedication. Retained for comparison; the displayed C-value follows Flora database 80.

    Range data: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; 4 June 2026 release, accessed 7 September 2026. © The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. CC BY 3.0; selected and reformatted. Kew cannot warrant the quality or accuracy of these data. This use has no Kew endorsement.

    Flora rating attribution: Kenneth Johnson (2018), Flora of the Chicago Region UFQA Database, following Gerould Wilhelm and Laura Rericha (2017), Flora of the Chicago Region: A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis. Individual rating facts are presented with original commentary; the calculator’s software license is not treated as a license for the underlying Flora publication.

    Plant Shipping & Care

    We want to ensure that our customers get what they want, a native backyard oasis. To do that, we need to follow a few simple guidelines and give you some information and pointers to make sure you get your plants delivered in a healthy state.

    As a reminder, you will receive an email to confirm your pickup or shipping window just before the plants are ready. See Order Fulfillment below for seasonal fulfillment windows.

     

    Choices to Receive Your Plants & Accessories

    • Retail - We only offer shipping & shipping is calculated at check out*
      • We do not offer retail pick up
    • Wholesale - Delivery is customized based on order size and location
    • Wholesale - Pickup is free

     

    Order Fulfilment - When Your Plants or Other Items Will Be Ready

    We take orders all year long and seed is shipped all year, but we only provide the plants to you in certain fulfillment windows to ensure healthy plants.

    Wholesale Orders

    • Shipped or are Ready For Pick Up As Requested.

     

    Retail & Website Orders

    • Seed Typically Ships Out Within One Week Of Order All Year Long
    • Typically, single species flats ship when ready, sometimes as soon as early to mid-April (depends on weather) through early-October.
    • Mixed species kits are batched and shipped as indicated on the product page.
    • If a plant order is placed while outside of the plant fulfillment window your plants will be reserved through your payment, however, the order will not be fulfilled and shipped until the following spring. We don't want to provide you plants when they won't be happy during the cold winter months. 
    • Early in the spring and later in the fall certain species may be dormant or partially dormant with brown leaves, however they will return to grow healthy next growing season.
    • Your order may arrive in several different shipments.
    • If certain plants within an order will not be available until a later date, we may choose to hold the full order until all are ready.  In certain circumstances, we may choose to send them in two separate shipments 
    • Fulfillment is always dependent upon plant availability.  We try our best but sometimes plants do not overwinter well and perish.  If a plant is on back order you will receive an email indicating the estimated shipping date.  If we can not provide the plant we will first notify you and give you an option of substitution or a refund of that individual species.
    • Plants are typically only packaged and shipped on Mondays to ensure they do not sit in the harsh delivery facility for extended periods of time over the weekend. You will receive a confirmation email once your delivery has been shipped and to estimate your delivery date.
    • Apparel & accessories are ready typically within one to two weeks. See product page for holiday shipping.

    Where We Ship

     

     

          What to Expect When Receiving Your Delivery

          • Your plants will be packaged with the utmost care
          • We will need to cut back certain plants prior to shipping. This seems counter-intuitive, however, the fewer leaves the less water the plants can lose during shipping, resulting in healthier plants for you. This also enables the plants to fit within the protective packaging and shipped safely.

           

             Shipments

            • Larger plant shipments will look similar to the picture below with a tray of your plants and a cardboard box to protect them during shipping.

             

             

            What to Do With Your Plants After  Receiving Your Delivery

            • Unpack your order IMMEDIATELY
            • Inspect for damage and report any issues immediately to Natives@NaturalCommunities.net
            • Water your plants
            • Install your plants as quickly as possible and water the entire garden area thoroughly
            • If you cannot install your plants immediately
              • Some plants may not be in a container, put them into some kind of a container such as a paper cup with loose soil until installation
              • Make sure each plant is receiving the appropriate amount of light.
              • Continue to water daily each morning and possibly again in the afternoon
              • No additional fertilizer is needed
            How to install native plugs

            Seed Shipping & Care

            There is a minimum order requirement of $30 for each seed species. Seed ships all year and typically ships within a week of an order being placed.

            We have attempted to put together some basic information regarding native seed installation, establishment, and maintenance.  We hope you find it helpful.  If you need further assistance on native seed establishment, please schedule a free consolation call here.

            Consultation Services

            Ecosystem Restoration Considerations

            Native Seed Establishment Best Management Practices

            Native Seed Stratification Best Management Practices

            View full details

            Solving a Site Problem? Get Expert Advice + Get Store Credit

            Whether you're fighting severe erosion, replacing invasive species, designing a pollinator haven, or seeding large acreage, choosing the wrong species wastes time and money. Talk 1-on-1 with a restoration ecologist to map out the exact species, plug counts, or seed mixes for your soil and goals. Book a consultation and get all or a portion credited directly back to your order.

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