Water Sedge vs Alpine Bluegrass - TreeTime.ca

Water Sedge vs Alpine Bluegrass

Carex aquatilis

Poa alpina

CUSTOM GROW

CUSTOM GROW

Water Sedge
Alpine Bluegrass

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.

Alpine Bluegrass is a native perennial bunchgrass adapted to cold, high-altitude, and northern environments. It establishes well in harsh mountain and tundra conditions, thriving even in nutrient-poor soils. Its dense tufts provide reliable ground cover in alpine and subalpine habitats.

Hardy and low-maintenance, Alpine Bluegrass is valued in revegetation and erosion control projects due to its strong root system. It provides forage for wildlife and livestock, while its dense growth also offers cover for small animals. Well-suited for reclamation and soil stabilization in high-elevation and northern regions, Alpine Bluegrass is a key species for strengthening fragile landscapes, though it is also found in lower-elevation sites.

Water Sedge Quick Facts

Alpine Bluegrass Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 3a
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Spread: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Spread: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: wet
Moisture: any
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Growth form: clump-forming
Spreading: seeds - medium
Suckering: medium


Foliage: long thin leaves
Flowers: green and brown
Seeds: achenes
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NL, YT, NT, NU
Other Names: leafy tussock sedge
Other Names: alpine speargrass, mountain speargrass