Carex canescens subsp. canescens
Silvery sedge, Silvery Sedge
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Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Carex canescens subsp. canescens (Silvery sedge) is a native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by glaucous leaves and silvery perigynia with short beaks.
Silvery sedge is a California native perennial found in northern Coast Ranges, high Cascade Range, and northern and central Sierra Nevada Mountains in wet, open places at elevations of 1,000 to 3,200 meters. Growing in dense tufts with stems 30 to 90 centimeters tall, this sedge has distinctively glaucous (bluish-gray) leaf blades 1.5 to 4 millimeters wide. Its inflorescence features 2 to 15 centimeters of spikelets in green to light brown colors, with typically less than 10 spikelets ranging from 3 to 12 millimeters long. The plant's leaves and fruit display subtle color variations, with pistillate flower bracts in white, occasionally gold or pale brown, and fruits in green to gold or silvery tones. Its compact, clustered growth habit and distinctive blue-gray foliage make this sedge a characteristic species of high-elevation wet meadows and stream edges.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 96 sympatric species; glaucous leaves and silvery perigynia with short beaks
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet, open places
Elevation: 1000-3200 m
Outside California: to Alaska, eastern North America, also South America, Eurasia, Australia
How to tell it apart
vs Juncus: Carex stems are triangular when rolled; Juncus stems are round and often hollow with partitions inside.; vs Cyperus: Carex has seeds in individual flasks; Cyperus has umbrella-like flower clusters with flattened ribbon-like spikes.; vs Plantago: Carex has triangular stems and brown/green spikelets; Plantago has round flower stalks and white/brown spike flowers.; vs Eleocharis: Carex has leaves along the stem; Eleocharis is nearly leafless with just one spikelet per stem.; vs Schoenoplectus: Carex has leafy stems and flask-enclosed seeds; Schoenoplectus has leafless round stems with exposed seeds.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carex canescens subsp. canescens native to California?
Yes. Carex canescens subsp. canescens is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Carex canescens subsp. canescens belong to?
Carex canescens subsp. canescens is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
What habitat does Carex canescens subsp. canescens grow in?
Carex canescens subsp. canescens grows in Wet, open places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.