Water Sedge vs Purple Prairie Clover - TreeTime.ca

Water Sedge vs Purple Prairie Clover

Dalea purpurea

Carex aquatilis

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

CUSTOM GROW

Purple Prairie Clover
Water Sedge

Purple Prairie Clover is a native perennial wildflower known for its striking purple blooms. The flower heads grow as dense spikes on tall stems, with each flower head containing many tiny blossoms. Blooming for 4–6 weeks in the summer, it attracts a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies.

The high protein content of the Purple Prairie Clover makes it excellent forage for wildlife and birds like to feed on its seeds. As a nitrogen-fixing plant, it enriches the soil, improving fertility and benefiting nearby vegetation. These ecological contributions make it a great choice for pollinator gardens, prairie & rangeland restoration, naturalization, and re-vegetation efforts.

This drought and heat-tolerant plant thrives in various soil conditions, including rocky soil, making it remarkably easy to grow in challenging environments.

Water Sedge is a waterside grass which grows an extensive horizontal root system. This prevents erosion and allows it to grow back after being eaten.

Water sedge is grazed by many animals including cattle, sheep, horses and waterfowl. Animals choose Water Sedge for forage later in the year as it stays green longer than other plants, requiring you to buy feed for less of the year.

Purple Prairie Clover Quick Facts

Water Sedge Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 1a
Height: 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Spread: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: wet
Growth rate: very fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium


Foliage: long thin leaves
Flowers: purple flowers in dense cone-like heads
Flowers: green and brown
Bloom time: mid summer
Seeds: achenes
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, SK, MB, ON
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Other Names: violet prairie-clover
Other Names: leafy tussock sedge