Brown Fox Sedge
(Carex vulpinoidea)

Brown Fox Sedge (Carex vulpinoidea) is a robust, cool-season native sedge widely distributed across North America, from southern Canada through most of the continental United States. Typically found in wet meadows, marshes, swales, and streambanks, this species thrives in moist to wet soils and tolerates periodic flooding, compacted soil, and low oxygen conditions. It prefers full sun to part shade and forms dense, upright clumps of fine-textured, bright green foliage, growing between 1.5 to 3 feet tall. In late spring to early summer, it produces spiky, brown to copper-colored inflorescences that resemble a fox’s tail, lending the plant its common name.
Beyond its visual appeal and adaptability, Brown Fox Sedge plays a vital ecological role. It is a larval host plant for native butterflies such as the Two-spotted Skipper (Euphyes bimacula) and the Black Dash (Euphyes conspicua), which rely on native sedges to complete their life cycles. It also supports a range of wetland insects, birds, and small mammals by providing food, shelter, and nesting materials. The plant’s fibrous root system makes it highly effective in stabilizing soil and reducing erosion, particularly along shorelines and in bioswales or rain gardens. Brown Fox Sedge is commonly used in ecological restoration projects, green infrastructure, and native landscaping. Historically, Indigenous peoples used various sedge species in weaving for baskets, mats, and cordage due to their strength and flexibility.