whitetop sedge

Plant Type

Grass/Grass-like

Life Cycle

Perennial

Typical Size

1-2 ft. tall
2-3 ft. wide

Tolerant of

Occasional Flooding

Inolerant of

Dry Soil

Propagation

By division

Plant Planting Notes

Spreads by underground rhizomes. Clumps can be divided when it becomes too large.

Plants/Diseases

No significant disease or pest issues.

Wildlife Benefits

Nectar/pollen source for pollinating insects

Leaves

Leaves alternate, simple and mostly basal.

Flowers

White and green bracts surround small, white to cream flowers.

Toxicity

No known toxicity.

USDA Hardiness Zones

7, 8, 9, 10

Light Exposure

Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade

Soil Moisture

Moist

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Neutral (6.0-8.0), Basic (greater than 8.0)

Native in South Carolina?

Yes

Plant Native Habitat

Open wet habitats with calcareous soils such as pine savannas, ditches, and dune swales.

Global Conservation Status (NatureServe)

Secure (G5)

Federal Conservation Status (USFWS)

Not Listed

Distribution Notes

Uncommon in the South Carolina coastal plain. Absent from the sandhills, piedmont, and mountains.