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| ## fox sedge {#fox-sedge .Title-Header}                               |
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| *Carex vulpinoidea* Michx.                                            |
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| Plant Symbol = CAVU2                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="1.7486111111111111in" height="2.4375in"}

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##### Alternate Names  {#alternate-names .Header-3}

Common fox sedge, two varieties are reported for the U.S.: *Carex
vulpinoidea* var *pycnocephala* and *Carex vulpinoidea* var.
*vulpinoidea*.

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##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

##### *Landscaping:* Fox sedge is used as an ornamental grass near water gardens. {#landscaping-fox-sedge-is-used-as-an-ornamental-grass-near-water-gardens. .Header-3}

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*Restoration:* Fox sedge is a clumping grass that will naturalize where
planted. It is planted in locations that remain moist, near streams,
springs, ponds, and moist woods. It is an excellent colonizer of wetland
mitigation sites.

**Weediness** Fox sedge spreads rapidly and may be weedy or invasive in
some regions or habitats, displacing desirable vegetation if not
properly managed. Please consult with your local NRCS Field Office,
Cooperative Extension Service office, or state natural resource or
agriculture department regarding its status and use. Weed information is
also available from the PLANTS Web site at plants.usda.gov.

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

*General*: Sedge Family (Cyperaceae). Fox sedge is a perennial,
clump-forming grass that grows to be 30 to 100 cm tall and spreads up to
60 cm wide. This is a U.S. native. Stems are slender and firm,
triangular, brownish at the base and have whitish, thin sheaths that are
conspicuously cross-wrinkled near the top. The leaves are narrow, 0.6 cm
wide, smooth with rough margins, clustered at the base of the plant and
usually taller than the stem, growing up to 1.2 m tall. The
inflorescences are made up of densely flowered spikes that are 4 to 10
cm long and up to 1.5 cm wide. Bristle-like bracts, up to 5 cm long, are
located at the base of each spike. Staminate flowers are at the top of
the spike and pistillate flowers are at the base. The flowers are green
and bloom from May through June. The seedheads mature in late summer and
spray out from the center of the clump, resembling a fox's tail. The
distinctive inflorescence makes fox sedge easy to identify.

*Distribution*: Fox sedge is a native species and has been reported in
all but two of the continental United States, Nevada and Utah. For
current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this
species on the PLANTS Web site (http://plants.usda.gov).

*Habitat*: Fox sedge is found near water on moist open ground in swamps,
prairie swales, lowland forests, wet ditches, ravines, and along the
edges of marshes, springs, lakes, and ponds. It is found with other
plant species such as soft rush, wool grass, bulrush, other sedges,
brome grass, Virginia wild rye, ox eye daisy, boneset, pye weed,
ironweed, golden alexanders, sneezewood, and monkey flower.

##### Adaptation {#adaptation .Header-3}

The USDA hardiness zones for fox sedge are 3-7. It is a pioneer species
that colonizes wet open sites soon after disturbance. It grows in full
sun to part shade and likes normal to wet soils. It is most abundant in
clayey soils, but also does well in sand and loam.

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

Fox sedge seedlings should be spaced 1 to 2 feet apart. This converts to
approximately 1000 roots per acre.

##### Seeds and Plant Production {#seeds-and-plant-production .Header-3}

##### Seeds are ready for collection when the inflorescences turn brown and the fruits can be easily pulled from the spikes. Fresh seeds should be planted in the fall or moist-stratified and planted in the spring. {#seeds-are-ready-for-collection-when-the-inflorescences-turn-brown-and-the-fruits-can-be-easily-pulled-from-the-spikes.-fresh-seeds-should-be-planted-in-the-fall-or-moist-stratified-and-planted-in-the-spring. .Header-3}

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

Fox sedge seeds and some seedlings are readily available from commercial
sources. The USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Program has not released any fox
sedge cultivars for conservation use. Contact your local Natural
Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service)
office for more information. Look in the phone book under "United States
Government." The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed
under the subheading "Department of Agriculture."

##### Control {#control .Header-3}

Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county
weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it
safely. Always read label and safety instructions for each control
method. Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to
provide specific information. USDA, NRCS does not guarantee or warranty
the products and control methods named, and other products may be
equally effective.

**References**

Freckman, R.W. 2004. *Fox sedge image.*
(http://www.botany.wisc.edu/wisflora/, 30 July 2004). Wisconsin State
Herbarium, Madison.

Haddock, M. 2004. *Kansas wildflowers and grasses*
(http://www.lib.ksu.edu/wildflower/, 30 July 2004). Kansas State
University, Manhattan.

Kemper Center for Home Gardening. 2004. *Kemper web, PlantFinder*
(http://ridgwaydb.mobot.org/kemperweb/plantfinder/Alpha.asp, 30 July
2004). Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis.

Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. 1998. *Wetland plants and
plant communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin---fox sedge*
(http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/1998/mnplant/cavu.htm, 30 July
2004). USGS, Jamestown.

##### Schneider, L. 2004. *Fox sedge---Carex vulpinoidea* (http://www.prairienursery.com/SpeciesASP/c-vulpage.asp, 30 July 2004). Prairie Nursery, Westfield. {#schneider-l.-2004.-fox-sedgecarex-vulpinoidea-httpwww.prairienursery.comspeciesaspc-vulpage.asp-30-july-2004.-prairie-nursery-westfield. .Header-3}

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##### Wetter, M. 2004. *Wisconsin Botanical Information System* (http://www.botany.wisc.edu/wisflora/, 30 July 2004). Wisconsin State Herbarium, Madison. {#wetter-m.-2004.-wisconsin-botanical-information-system-httpwww.botany.wisc.eduwisflora-30-july-2004.-wisconsin-state-herbarium-madison. .Header-3}

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##### Wunderlin, R.P., and B.F. Hansen. 2003. *Atlas of Florida vascular plants* (http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu, 30 July 2004). Institute of Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa. {#wunderlin-r.p.-and-b.f.-hansen.-2003.-atlas-of-florida-vascular-plants-httpwww.plantatlas.usf.edu-30-july-2004.-institute-of-systematic-botany-university-of-south-florida-tampa. .Header-3}

##### Prepared By:  {#prepared-by .Header-3}

*Sarah Wennerberg*

Formerly USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

##### Species Coordinator:  {#species-coordinator .Header-3}

*Mark Skinner*

##### USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana {#usda-nrcs-national-plant-data-center-baton-rouge-louisiana .Header-3}

##### Edited: 3Aug2004 sbw; 21Oct2004 rln; 01jun06 jsp {#edited-3aug2004-sbw-21oct2004-rln-01jun06-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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