Sedge*
Carex serratodens
Care
part shade
moderate
4–4ft tall
Resistant
Friendly
Tubers eaten cooked; traditional Indigenous food source
Meadows and riparian areas in the Sierra Nevada and interior regions, typically at 3,000-8,000 ft elevation
Care Guide
Planting
Plant Two Tooth Sedge in a location with partial shade - it won't thrive in full sun or deep shade. Choose a spot with consistently moist soil, as this native sedge naturally grows in wet areas across California's elevations. Space plants about 2–3 feet apart to accommodate their 4-foot mature height. Spring is the ideal planting time in the Bay Area, giving the plant time to establish before summer.
After Planting
Water moderately to deeply during your first growing season, especially through the summer months, keeping the soil consistently moist rather than letting it dry out. Once established in year two, this sedge is fairly low-maintenance - reduce watering frequency but maintain moderate moisture during dry periods. The Calscape data doesn't specify pruning needs, but avoid cutting it back severely. The biggest mistake Bay Area gardeners make is planting sedge in dry spots; this plant wants moisture, so don't treat it like a drought-tolerant ornamental grass.
Endangered & Threatened Species Supported
California Clapper Rail; federally and state endangered
Yellow Warbler; state endangered in California (coastal populations)
Grasshopper Sparrow; California-listed as threatened
Ornate shrew is a Species of Special Concern
Wildlife Supported
Birds
builds nests among dense sedge stands in coastal wetlands March-June
nests in native grass-sedge complexes April-July; requires open structure
hunts rodents in sedge meadows during winter migration and overwintering
uses sedge meadows for foraging and shelter during breeding season
Mammals
uses dense sedge clumps as cover and foraging habitat in wet meadows
seeds consumed during fall seed maturation and winter food storage