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Carex vulpina

fox sedge

Cyperaceae

Europe and northern Asia (British Isles east through Russia to western Siberia)

Deer Resistant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterHigh

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Carex vulpina is a robust, densely tufted perennial sedge in the Cyperaceae family, reaching 18-36 inches (45-90 cm) tall in dense tussocks 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) across. Stems are triangular, sharply angled, with conspicuously winged angles that cut the skin when drawn through the fingers — a primary tactile identification character. Leaves are flat, 0.2-0.4 inch (5-10 mm) wide, bright green to yellow-green, rough-margined. The inflorescence is a dense, compound spike 1.5-3 inches (4-8 cm) long, composed of numerous tightly packed, ovoid spikelets forming a continuous or slightly interrupted column. The inflorescence is fox-tail-like in shape — the basis for the common name and the epithet vulpina (fox-like). Spikelets are brownish-green, each containing both male and female flowers. Utricles are 4-5 mm long, broadly ovoid, flattened, with a winged margin and a bifid beak, spreading at maturity to give the spike a bristly texture. The species occurs in wet meadows, ditch margins, and floodplain habitats on nutrient-rich, base-rich, alluvial soils across Europe. In Britain, it is a species of conservation concern, declining due to drainage and agricultural improvement of its floodplain grassland habitat. Frequently confused with C. otrubae (false fox sedge), which is much more abundant and is often misidentified as C. vulpina.

Native Range

Carex vulpina is native across Europe, from the British Isles and Scandinavia south to the Mediterranean and east through Russia to western Siberia, where the species occurs in wet meadows, floodplain grasslands, ditch margins, and pond edges on base-rich, nutrient-rich, alluvial soils from sea level to approximately 3,300 feet (1,000 m).

Suggested Uses

Used in wet meadow restoration, floodplain grassland recreation, and pond margin plantings on base-rich soils. In Britain and Europe, a conservation-priority species for wet meadow habitat restoration. In garden settings, planted at pond margins and in rain gardens where nutrient-rich, base-rich wet conditions are present. The dense tussock habit and fox-tail spikes add textural interest to naturalistic wet plantings.

How to Identify

Identified by the robust tussock habit, sharply winged triangular stems that cut when pulled through the fingers, and the dense, fox-tail-shaped compound spike of brown-green spikelets. Separated from C. otrubae (false fox sedge) — the species that gets confused with C. vulpina in the field — by the winged stem angles (C. otrubae stems are not winged), the broader utricles, and the preference for base-rich floodplain soils. The stem-wing character is the most reliable field separation between the two species.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1'6" - 3'

Width/Spread1' - 1'6"

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering occurs from May through June. The dense compound spike sheds pollen by wind over a 2-3 week period. Utricles ripen and spread to a bristly texture by July-August. Seed dispersal is by water (hydrochory) during floodplain inundation events.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

Bright green to yellow-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.5 - 8.0(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay silt

Drainagewet

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants grow in full sun to partial shade in consistently moist to wet, base-rich, fertile soil with a pH of 6.5-8.0. Plants are spaced 12-15 inches (30-38 cm) apart. The species tolerates seasonal flooding and standing water to 3 inches (8 cm). In garden settings, planting in rain garden lower zones, pond margins, and wet meadow areas matches the species' habitat. Feeding is unnecessary on fertile alluvial soils. Drying out is avoided — the species is restricted to permanently moist habitats.