Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Rusty Slender Sedge (Carex subfusca) is a native grass that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in moist, open places, at elevations from 0-3000 feet. Like other wetland plants it will spread to fill any moist area. It will become deciduous in summer dryness.

Plant type

Grass

Size

1 ft Tall

Growth rate

Fast

Dormancy

Summer Semi-deciduous, Winter Deciduous

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Color

Brown

Special uses

Lawn alternative

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Low, Moderate

Summer irrigation

Max 1x / week once established

Ease of care

Moderate

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to -15° F

Soil drainage

Slow

Soil description

Tolerates a variety of soils as long as adequate moisture is provided.
Soil PH: 5.0 - 8.0

Site type

Seasonally wet meadows, seeps, creeks

Plant communities

Chaparral, Douglas-Fir Forest, Foothill Woodland, Lodgepole Forest, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Red Fir Forest, Southern Oak Woodland, Subalpine Forest, Yellow Pine Forest, Wetland-Riparian

Use with other wetland plants such as Stream Orchid, Leopard Lily (Lilium pardalinum ssp. pardalinum), Seep Monkeyflower, Scarlet Monkeyflower (Erythranthe cardinalis), Hedge Nettle, various Rushes and Sedges

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 9 likely

Confirmed Likely

American Ear Moth

Amphipoea americana

Common Ringlet

Coenonympha tullia

Olive Green Cutworm Moth

Dargida procinctus

Elachista cucullata