Also known as: hanging sedge, weeping sedge, pendulous sedge
Drooping sedge is a prolific seeder. Given the right conditions a single plant can produce up to 20,000 seeds annually! These seeds spread to new areas by floating downstream or being carried by boots, clothing, animals’ fur, and equipment.
Description:
| Life Cycle: | Perennial (life cycle lasts more than one year) |
| Early Detection and Rapid Response species: | Yes |
| Height: | 3 – 6 feet (1 – 2 meters) |
| Leaf Description: | Hairless leaves are long and wide. They are green on top and dull green to blue green on bottom. |
| Fruit & Flower Description: | Small, off-white flowers grow in clusters with leaf-like bractsSmall leaf-like structures that are just below a plant’s flower. at the base of each cluster. |
| Bloom Time: | March to May |
Habitat:
- Drooping sedge is commonly found in or near wetlands, riparian areasAreas that are directly adjacent to flowing streams, creeks, or rivers., ditches, and roadsides.
- It typically grows in full to partially shady environments and damp to wet soils.
Impact:
- Drooping sedge spreads by seed. A single plant can produce as many as 20,000 seeds annually!
- Its ability to quickly spread allows it to easily outcompete native wetland species, creating a monocultureGrowing a single crop or plant..
What you can do about it:
- If you think you’ve found drooping sedge, please report it to the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline.
- Manual treatment of drooping sedge is not recommended for treating large infestations because it can re-sprout from fragmented rhizomes.
Look-alikes:
Drooping sedge is very similar in appearance to many other native sedges including slough sedge (Carex obnupta). Generally, slough sedge is smaller, with shorter flower spikes. Slough sedge’s leaves are also thinner than drooping sedge. It’s best to consult with a weed identification professional before trying to treat drooping sedge.
Noxious Weed Listing:
| State of Oregon: | Watch |
| State of Washington: | Not Listed |
More Resources:
- Clackamas SWCD Weedwise: Drooping sedge