Gray’s Sedge

Carex grayi

Pollinator Value

❄️ Winter Food Source: Seeds of Carex spp. are an important winter food source for numerous bird species. In the Ottawa region, Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, and Swamp Sparrow forage on sedge seeds persisting in woodland and wetland habitats through winter. The large, inflated perigynia of C. grayi retain achenes well into the cold months. Waterfowl including American Black Duck, Mallard, and Green-winged Teal also consume Carex seeds in flooded habitats.
S57+S10

Proximity Score: 0
Native Status: ✅ Outaouais ✅ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: Local
CEC Eco-Regions: 5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians
Rarity Notes: Globally secure (G5) with national rank N4 in Canada. S4 in both Ontario and Quebec indicates apparently secure populations. Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. In New England, it is rare in Massachusetts (S2, Threatened) and uncommon in Vermont (S3). The Ottawa region population is uncommon per Brunton (2005) with 18 sites documented.
S22+S26+S62+S61
Rarity Ranks: QC S4 – Apparently Secure, ON S4 – Apparently Secure
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: Gray's sedge occupies rich, moist to wet deciduous forests, floodplains, and calcareous swamps in the Ottawa Valley. Specimens from Plaisance Reserve and Lac Leamy confirm its presence in floodplain forests of the Outaouais and Gatineau rivers. Typical associates include Acer saccharum, A. saccharinum, Fraxinus nigra, and Tilia americana. It tolerates temporary flooding and thrives in both shaded woodland depressions and riparian corridors.
S48+S7+S10+S61

Roles: Water Purifier
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Water Purifier: S72 Hemenway (tables: 5-3, pp. 82)]
Notes: Gray's sedge functions as a water purifier in riparian and rain garden guilds, filtering sediment and nutrients from surface runoff. Its tolerance of both shade and sun makes it versatile for planting under canopy trees or in open wetland edges. Pairs well with other floodplain species such as Acer saccharinum, Fraxinus nigra, and moisture-loving forbs.
S72+S3+S10

❌ Not Edible