Seersucker Sedge, also known as Plantain-Leaved Sedge, is unmistakable with its large, 1″ wide, bright green leaves. They are pleated with veins, giving them the common name of Seersucker, like the striped fabric. This sedge provides an unusual and attractive textural contrast in the shade garden amongst ferns and woodland flowers. It thrives in moist, rich shade but can adapt to drier, tougher spots as well. The foliage is evergreen and unpalatable to deer, but the seeds are readily eaten by various bird species and the leaves feed the caterpillars of the Appalachian Brown butterfly. Sources: Native Ferns, Moss, & Grasses by William Cullina Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Illinois Wildflowers Mt Cuba Center Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia Photo Credit: Mature Individual: Jay Sturner from USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
