Carex atrata “Blackened Sedge”

This is such a pretty sedge! The black inflorescences are large – up to 1” long & attractively laced with white filaments. This is one of the few sedges who’s “flowers” have caused me to stop in my tracks & pause to admire them. Forms dense tufts to 18” tall of medium green grassy blades. It is a clumper & won’t spread by rhizomes. Found in wet meadows but also dry alpine slopes in Oregon, Washington, Utah, & Colorado. I saw a plant of this growing near a seasonal creek & it looked fabulous so I think regular water would be best for this Carex but it may do fine with some dryness. Inflorescences are produced July-August.

Kelly Kilpatrick
Horticulturalist