Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Carex grayi

Asa Gray's Sedge · Gray's Sedge · Gray's Bur Sedge

Family CyperaceaeGenus Carex

Two star-shaped green seed heads with thick pointed beaks radiating outward, on leafy stems
FruitKurt Stüber [1]CC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous Perennial, Ornamental Grasses and SedgesExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennial or rhizomatous geophytePlants of the World Online
Height
2-3 ft60-90 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
1.4-2 ft45-60 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
GreenPLANTS Database
Blooms
Fall, Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
5-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Moist, Occasional Flooding, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: LowPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Two sources report 4 treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 28, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 98 days to germinate.

50% germination in 14–98 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Carex p. 22Public domain
Show the original text
Carex (Cyperaceae). t C. grayi germ. 70L(50% in 2-14 w) using fresh seeds or seeds DS 2 y. Seeds DS 4 y germ. 70L(1/16 in 4th w) and 70D(none). -
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Carex p. 22. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 9, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 9, 2023.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 1460 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 4 years from start to sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

6% germination in 28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Carex p. 22Public domain
Show the original text
Carex (Cyperaceae). t C. grayi germ. 70L(50% in 2-14 w) using fresh seeds or seeds DS 2 y. Seeds DS 4 y germ. 70L(1/16 in 4th w) and 70D(none). -
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Carex p. 22. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around July 2, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on July 1, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 98 days to germinate.

50% germination in 14–98 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Carex p. 28Public domain
Show the original text
Carex (Cyperaceae). C. grayi seeds DS 6 m germ. 70L(50% in 2-14 w) and 70D(none), and seeds DS 2 y germ. 70L(4/11 in 7-12 w) and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Carex p. 28. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 12, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on January 11, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 730 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 2 years from start to sowing. Then 84 days to germinate.

36% germination in 49–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Carex p. 28Public domain
Show the original text
Carex (Cyperaceae). C. grayi seeds DS 6 m germ. 70L(50% in 2-14 w) and 70D(none), and seeds DS 2 y germ. 70L(4/11 in 7-12 w) and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Carex p. 28. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

Add to My Garden

View species page