Carex stricta (Common Tussock Sedge)
Carex stricta (Common Tussock Sedge)
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Pure Live Seed
Pure Live Seed
Seed is provided in Pure Live Seed (PLS) unless otherwise stated.
Pure Live Seed (PLS) expresses the viable seed content of a seed lot using its purity and germination or viability test results. It helps you compare seed lots and calculate how much bulk seed is needed to meet a specified PLS planting rate.
PLS weight and bag weight
PLS weight is not the same as the total weight of seed in a bag. For example, a lot with 80% purity and 75% viability contains 60% PLS: 80 × 75 ÷ 100 = 60. Supplying 10 lb PLS from that lot requires about 16.67 lb of bulk seed.
Use the current seed test and the stated basis of the mix specification. Germination calculations may include applicable hard or dormant seed. Seed-count estimates also require the number of seeds per pound; PLS alone does not provide a seed count.
What to check when buying a mix
Check whether each rate is stated in PLS pounds, bulk pounds, or a combination. A mix with both bases should not be described as having an all-PLS total.
PLS does not remove weed seeds or guarantee establishment. Review the seed label and analysis for weed content, and match site preparation, planting conditions and follow-up management to your project.
Sources: USDA NRCS, Understanding Pure Live Seed and The Importance of Seed Quality for Natural Resource Conservation.
Weight Conversions lbs. to oz.
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
Tussock sedge builds dense clumps that rise above shallow seasonal water. Its strong growth suits wet ground where raised tussocks and some spreading are welcome.
For Carex stricta, choose full sun and wet to moist soil. Recorded habitats include sedge meadows; Fens; Seeps; Spring-fed lowlands; Prairie swales; Seasonal wetlands. Reported height: about 2½-4 ft.
Growth habit: dense tussocks; colonies often develop at favorable sites. 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 | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Soil moisture | Wet to moist |
| Height | About 2½-4 ft |
| Bloom season | Mid-spring to early summer |
Native landscape companions
For full sun and wet soil, consider these native plants alongside Carex stricta:
| Companion plant | Height |
|---|---|
| Blue Joint Grass (Calamagrostis canadensis) | 2-5 ft |
| Common Rush (Juncus effusus) | About 2-4 ft |
These landscape suggestions combine overlapping growing needs with documented plant associations. Match soil, seasonal wetness and mature spread to your site. Remnant records are described separately under Plant communities & associates.
Show / hide ▾Growing & planting details
| Growth habit | Dense tussocks; colonies often develop at favorable sites |
|---|---|
| Root form | Fibrous roots; Rhizomes |
| Soil pH | 3.5–7.0 |
| Drought tolerance | Low |
| Salt tolerance | None |
Plant identification & seed reference
| Botanical name | Carex stricta |
|---|---|
| Other common names | common tussock sedge |
| Seed germination | USDA lists cold stratification as not required; seed-lot response may vary. |
| Plant family | Cyperaceae |
Plant characteristics
Carex stricta (Common Tussock Sedge) prefers wet prairie and shallow marsh habitats. Fine delicate foliage grows to form dense tufts that can be used in rain gardens to for a unique texture. In wetter marsh sites, the tuft forms above the waterline creating a tussock sedge meadow.
Show / hide ▾Plant communities & associates
Illinois plant communities
These regional accounts place this plant and the plants below in the same type of natural community. A community list does not mean that every species grew together in one plot. Use the habitat and location to understand the relationship; it is not a planting recipe.
- Wet sand prairie — Illinois sand deposits: Calamagrostis canadensis, Spartina pectinata, Galium obtusum, Helianthus grosseserratus, Hypericum sphaerocarpum, Solidago canadensis, Thelypteris palustris. (pp. 266)
Other documented plant associations
These published associations show how this plant fits into natural vegetation. The region and community are identified for each list; moisture, shade and flooding can differ within a community.
Wet meadows and wet-woodland associations
Species-range synthesis; not a single sampled stand
- Andropogon gerardii (Big Bluestem) (source: Andropogon gerardii var. gerardii)
- Calamagrostis canadensis (Blue Joint Grass)
- Carex spp.
- Gaylussacia spp.
- Ilex verticillata (Winterberry Holly)
- Juncus effusus (Common Rush)
- Ledum groenlandicum
- Poa pratensis
- Vaccinium spp.
Wetland with aspen canopy, dogwood shrubs and sedge–bluejoint ground layer
Mullin Tract, Wellington County, Ontario; historical prefire study
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.
- Tussock-sedge meadows; leadplant is a minor component (Wisconsin): Amorpha canescens.
- Wet meadows and moist woods (Northeastern and upper Midwestern North America; account synthesis): Vaccinium spp., Gaylussacia spp., Ilex verticillata, Juncus effusus, Ledum groenlandicum, Poa pratensis, Andropogon gerardii var. gerardii, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex spp..
Show / hide ▾Native range & C-value
State nativity describes a broad range. Use the Chicago-region assessment for local context; a state listing does not establish county nativity.
| Wetland indicator — NWPL 2022 Midwest | OBL |
|---|---|
| C-value — Chicago region, Flora 2017 | 5 |
| Chicago-region native — Flora 2017 | Yes |
| Native range — U.S. states | Alabama; Connecticut; Delaware; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Mississippi; Missouri; Nebraska; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New Mexico; New York; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Rhode Island; South Dakota; Tennessee; Texas; Vermont; Virginia; West Virginia; Wisconsin |
| County nativity | Not yet verified; occurrence records do not establish nativity. |
Show / hide ▾Pollinators & wildlife
Caterpillars & other plant-feeding insects
This plant has published caterpillar host records for the butterflies and moths listed below. These are larval feeding relationships, separate from adult nectar visits. The records span a North American literature compilation and do not establish that every insect occurs locally or uses only this plant.
Butterflies & skippers
- Lethe eurydice — Eyed Brown
- Poanes massasoit — Mulberry Wing
Show / hide ▾Frequently asked questions
What are the ideal growing conditions for Common Tussock Sedge?
Light: Full sun. Soil moisture: Wet to moist.
How do I germinate and establish Common Tussock Sedge from seed?
USDA lists cold stratification as not required; seed-lot response may vary.
Is Common Tussock Sedge deer and herbivore resistant?
Species-specific deer resistance has not been verified here. Even plants described as resistant may be browsed. Use physical protection where deer damage is a concern.
When should I expect Common Tussock Sedge to bloom?
Typical flowering period: Mid-spring to early summer. Timing varies with location and weather.
Show / hide ▾Sources & ecological notes
Landscape companion selection: Natural Communities compared the growing requirements shown on these species pages with selected source records: Wet sand prairie — Illinois sand deposits; Wet meadows and moist woods — Northeastern and upper Midwestern North America; account synthesis. The shortlist is a planting-design inference. A shared record does not establish adjacency, identical soil requirements, local seed origin, or a tested planting combination. Regional synthesis records retain their documented focal-to-associate scope.
Illinois communities & local records: INHS: Illinois sand-area plant communities.
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: Illinois Wildflowers, John Hilty; USDA Forest Service: carstr; USDA Forest Service: Amorpha canescens; USDA NRCS PLANTS.
Wildlife records: Shropshire & Tallamy: caterpillar hosts (2025).
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.
Caterpillar host records: Shropshire, K.J. & Tallamy, D.W. (2025), Lepidoptera of North America, Supplement 1. Contains information from this database made available under the Open Database License (ODbL 1.0). Natural Communities selected species-level records and screened source qualifications. The complete selection and transformation instructions for this page are available below under the same license.
Source: Phillippe, L.R., Molano-Flores, B., Murphy, M.J.C., Marcum, P.B. & Ebinger, J.E. (2011), Status of Endangered and Threatened Sand Area Species of the Illinois Flora, Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin 39(4):259–296. © 2011 University of Illinois Board of Trustees; CC BY 4.0. Selected community facts regrouped and described by Natural Communities. Historical source names retained; no current legal conservation status is asserted.
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.
Caterpillar research records
Plant: Carex stricta
Record scope: Host literature synthesis; no county nativity or local insect occurrence inferred.
Shropshire & Tallamy (2025) · Original research dataset · Reuse license: ODbL-1.0
| Plant names in the source | Source insect record IDs |
|---|---|
| Carex stricta | 207687, 210262 |
How these records were selected
To reproduce this selection, use the “UDELep May 2025” worksheet in the original research dataset.
- Match the insect record IDs above to column A (UDLepID). Within each table row, pair every listed insect ID with every listed source plant name.
- Use the first two words in column H for the insect’s scientific name, column E for its common name, and column AB for its source category.
- Treat the selected pairs as reported caterpillar host records. Keep all other source fields unchanged and outside this selected table. Include no other rows or host pairs.
- Group butterflies and skippers together, and the other categories as moths. Retain the source’s exotic-category labels and sort display names by scientific insect name.
Growing guidance: Illinois Extension — Keeping deer out of the yard and garden. Selected facts in original wording. General deer advice is not a species resistance rating.
Plant Shipping & Care
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.
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Order Fulfilment - When Your Plants or Other Items Will Be Ready
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Where We Ship
What to Expect When Receiving Your Delivery
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- 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
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- 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
Seed Shipping & Care
Seed Shipping & Care
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