Carex pendula
Pendulous sedge, Pendulous Sedge
(c) Emily Roberts, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Cyperaceae · Type: Grass · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Carex pendula (Pendulous sedge) is a non-native California grass in the Cyperaceae family, recognized by distinctive tall stature and long nodding spikelets.
Pendulous sedge is a naturalized perennial found in Sacramento Valley and San Francisco Bay bioregions in moist forest and waterways at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering with green spikelets that nod gracefully, this sedge produces pendant inflorescences 3 to 20 centimeters long with red-brown to purple flower bracts. Growing impressively tall with stems 1 to 2 meters high, it forms dense cespitose clumps with reddish to purple stem bases. Its broad leaves measure 7 to 20 millimeters wide, spreading in rich green arching blades. The fruit is plump and elliptic, with green bodies streaked with brown and a tiny smooth beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 41 sympatric species; distinctive tall stature and long nodding spikelets
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist forest, waterways
Elevation: < 500 m
California counties: Butte, Marin, Alameda, San Mateo, Contra Costa
Outside California: Oregon, Washington, eastern North America, native to Europe
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
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 pendula native to California?
No. Carex pendula is not native to California (recorded as not native).
Where in California does Carex pendula grow?
Carex pendula occurs in Butte, Marin, Alameda, San Mateo, Contra Costa, at elevations of < 500 m.
What plant family does Carex pendula belong to?
Carex pendula is in the Cyperaceae family, genus Carex.
Is Carex pendula invasive in California?
Carex pendula is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Carex pendula grow in?
Carex pendula grows in Moist forest, waterways.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.