{"product_id":"bicknells-sedge","title":"Bicknell's Sedge (Carex Bicknellii)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLocal Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bicknell’s Sedge\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eCarex bicknellii\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFamily: \u003c\/strong\u003eCyperaceae\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNative Status:\u003c\/strong\u003e Minnesota Native\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLandscape Archetype:\u003c\/strong\u003e Prairie, Savanna, Edgeland, “Open” Woodland\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLife Cycle\u003c\/strong\u003e: Perennial\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSun Exposure:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, part sun\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil Moisture\u003c\/strong\u003e: Dry to Mesic\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil Type: \u003c\/strong\u003eLoam, Sand, Silt, Gravel\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHeight \u0026amp; Width Range:\u003c\/strong\u003e Height: Waist 24”-36”, Width: 12\"–24\" (with the mop top)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Color: \u003c\/strong\u003eGreen, Yellow, Brown \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMorphology Notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e A fine‑textured, tufted sedge forming upright, graceful clumps. Leaves are narrow, arching, and bright green. Flowers on sedges which are referred to as “spikes” are a skinny, unbranched flower column packed with scale‑covered florets, often arranged with male spikes above and female spikes below. Bicknell’s spikes are rather attractive when viewed up close they look like tightly packed ice cream waffle cones. Green at first, then yellow, then brown. The root system is fibrous, forming distinct bunches, that do not spread but hold soil tightly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFruits and Seeds:\u003c\/strong\u003e Seedheads appear as slender, elongated spikes with brown to chestnut‑colored perigynia clustered tightly along the flowering stem, like 3 little waffle cones. Those perigynia are green at first and then in mid to late summer ripen to a warm brown. Not edible. Seedheads are moderately ornamental and catch light well when dry. They persist into fall and early winter. They are very fun to pull off the stem and scatter. Maybe they’ll grow?  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHabit and habitat:\u003c\/strong\u003e A bunching (caespitose), upright, sedge common in dry to mesic prairies, open savannas, glacial till hilltops, gravelly slopes, and sunny meadow edges. Often found in high‑quality remnant prairies and sandy knolls where competition is lower and soils are lean. Remains tight and vertical in full sun; in part sun may arch more loosely, in nutritious soil it often flops. Handles drought and fire well and typically forms small, scattered colonies only if seeds dispersed in disturbed soil. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompanions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Prairie Brome (\u003cem\u003eBromus kalmii\u003c\/em\u003e), Little Bluestem (\u003cem\u003eSchizachyrium scoparium)\u003c\/em\u003e, Pale Purple Coneflower (\u003cem\u003eEchinacea pallida\u003c\/em\u003e), Compass Plant (\u003cem\u003eSilphium laciniatum\u003c\/em\u003e), Stiff Goldenrod (\u003cem\u003eSolidago rigida\u003c\/em\u003e), Rattlesnake Master (\u003cem\u003eEryngium yuccifolium\u003c\/em\u003e), Stiff Sunflower (\u003cem\u003eHelianthus pauciflorus\u003c\/em\u003e), Round‑headed Bush Clover (\u003cem\u003eLespedeza capitata\u003c\/em\u003e), Gray-headed Coneflower (\u003cem\u003eRatibida pinnata\u003c\/em\u003e).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEcological Associations\u003c\/strong\u003e: Bicknell’s Sedge provides early‑season structure and fine‑textured cover for insects and animals at its base underneath last year’s leaves. Its seedheads attract small seed‑feeding insects and serve as perches for predatory species like dragon flies. It’s dense caudex (crown at the soil level) offer shelter for juvenile Orthoptera, various Hemiptera and even ground nesting bees. Its presence stabilizes soil everywhere it lives but especially on slopes and upland dry prairies turned woodlots. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance: \u003c\/strong\u003eMN\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNH Propagation technique: \u003c\/strong\u003eSeed \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecial Powers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bicknell’s Sedge, sometimes called \"Copper Oval Sedge\" might be cousins with the other \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.minnesotawildflowers.info\/search?kw=Carex%20sect-Ovales\"\u003eOvales\u003c\/a\u003e like \u003cem\u003eCarex molesta\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eC. normalis\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eC. brevior\u003c\/em\u003e, but it stands out fast. This is the macho one with the more upright and robust habit. It has longer, slimmer spikes and a taller architectural presence. Admittedly, Bicknell’s is a flopper in late summer, it just can’t hold up that ego. But when paired with other macho forbs like Compass Plant with contrasting leave texture the flop can produce an interesting effect. A good matrix plant for hardcore prairies and always stunning in spring!  \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Northern Holler, LLC","offers":[{"title":"2.5\" POWER PLUG","offer_id":48188301771002,"sku":"CAREX-BICK-01","price":3.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"3.5” 1ST YR Perennial and Biennial","offer_id":48188531114234,"sku":"CAREX-BICK-02","price":5.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"3.5” 2ND YR Perennial","offer_id":48188531147002,"sku":"CAREX-BICK-03","price":7.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"6\" Standard Perennial","offer_id":48188531179770,"sku":"CAREX-BICK-04","price":10.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0806\/9929\/3946\/files\/20240830_193243459_iOS.jpg?v=1773199830","url":"https:\/\/northernholler.com\/products\/bicknells-sedge","provider":"Northern Holler, LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}