Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Calochortus venustus is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name butterfly mariposa lily. It is endemic to California, where it can be found in the sandy soils of a number of habitats in the mountains and foothills in the central part of the state. It is a perennial herb producing a branching stem 10 to 60 centimeters tall. There is a basal leaf up to 20 centimeters long which withers by the time the plant blooms. The flower cluster is a loose cluster of 1 to 6 erect, bell-shaped flowers. The flowers are variable in size and color pattern, though white is the most common color. They are often showy and intricately patterned. They generally have three curving sepals 2 or 3 centimeters long and three oval-shaped, clawed petals up to 5 centimeters long. The petals may be a variety of colors from white to pale pink or purple to bright red or orange, and sport a large dark central blotch and a smaller, paler blotch above. The fruit is an angled capsule 5 or 6 centimeters long. Although they tend to grow singly in the wild, they have more visual impact when massed in the garden. This plant needs summer dormancy, so withhold water after it has finished blooming.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun in coastal sites, and sun or part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Calochortus vestae is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name coast range mariposa lily. It is endemic to the forests of the North Coast Ranges of California, where it generally grows in clay soils. It is a perennial herb producing a branching stem between 30 and 50 centimeters tall. The basal leaf is 10 to 20 centimeters long and withers by flowering. The flower cluster is a loose cluster of 1 to 6 erect, bell-shaped flowers. Each flower has three petals up to about 4 centimeters long and three sepals 2 to 3 centimeters long beneath. The petals are white to purplish in color with a central area of pale yellow with a darker reddish or brownish blotch within. At the base of each petal is a red-streaked patch of hairs.

Calochortus weedii is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name Weed's mariposa lily. It is native to the coast, foothills and mountains of southern California and Baja California, where it is a member of the chaparral flora. It is a perennial herb growing from a bulb, producing a slender, branching stem 30 to 90 centimeters tall. There is a basal leaf up to 40 centimeters long which withers by the time the plant blooms. The flower cluster bears 2 to 6 erect, widely bell-shaped to spreading flowers. Each flower has three narrow sepals and three wider and sometimes shorter petals, each segment up to 3 centimeters long. The petals are oval or wedge-shaped and may be any of a variety of colors, from cream to deep yellow to reddish purple. The petals often have reddish brown borders and flecks, and a coating of hairs on the inner surface. Don't expect it to flower every year. The bulb needs a few years to recover after flowering. The fruit is an angled capsule 4 to 5 centimeters long. There are two recognized varieties; var. intermedius is a rare plant with a more restricted range.

Intermediate Mariposa Lily (Calochortus weedii var. intermedius) is a rare native perennial herb that grows in Southern California, primarily in the South Coast and Peninsular Range regions. It tends to grow in with heavy or rocky soil, at elevations from 0-6200 feet.

Weed's Mariposa Lily (Calochortus weedii var. weedii) is a native perennial herb that grows primarily in San Diego and Orange counties. It tends to grow in with heavy or rocky soil, at elevations from 0-6200 feet.

Calycadenia multiglandulosa is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name sticky western rosinweed. It is native to central California, where it is a common member of the flora in a number of habitat types. Its range extends into western Nevada. This is an annual herb producing an erect, hairy, hairy stem up to 70 centimeters tall. The leaves are linear in shape and up to 8 centimeters long. The flower cluster is a series of dense clusters of flower heads surrounded by long, narrow leafs covered in obvious bulbous glands. The sticky, hairy flower head has a center of several disc florets surrounded by a few white, yellow, or red ray florets. Each ray floret has three lobes at the tip, the middle lobe being shortest. The fruit is an achene; those developing from the disc florets have a pappus of scales.

Spice bush (Calycanthus occidentalis) is a deciduous shrub with bright green leaves and unusual  lotus-shaped red flowers that can resemble a small magnolia flower. The flowers are strongly scented, with a wine-like fragrance, and appear from late spring through early autumn. Sap beetles pollinate the flowers. The bark also has a strong smell, like camphor,  that is released when the stems are scraped. 

Left alone, it will become a large, rounded shrub 3 to 13 feet tall and 3 to 12 feet wide.  Trimmed, it can become a multi-trunked small tree. Part-shade is ideal for this plant but it tolerates full sun with lots of moisture in somewhat cooler areas. It accepts full shade but will grow more slowly with a more open habit. It is adaptable to different types of soil, and is somewhat deer resistant. 

Cistanthe monandra (formerly Calyptridium monandrum) is a species of flowering plant in the purslane family known by the common name Common Pussypaws. It is native to the southwestern United States and adjacent Baja California, where it grows in sandy areas such as deserts and coastal and mountain scrub habitats. This is a fleshy, flat annual herb producing short stems which extend along the ground or spread upright from a small taproot. Thick, spoon-shaped leaves occur in a basal rosette at the base of the stem, reaching up to about 5 centimeter in length. There are smaller leaves along the stems. Small flower clusters sprout from the stem bearing many flowers, each with fleshy, triangular sepals and three pink or red petals only a few millimeters long. The fruit is a translucent, oblong capsule up to six millimeters long containing several shiny, black seeds.

Calyptridium monospermum (formerly Cistanthe monosperma) is a perennial plant in the MIner's Lettuce Family (Montiaceae), known by the common name one-seeded pussypaws. It was formerly classified in the Purslane Family (Portulacaceae). It is native to western North America from Oregon to Baja California, where it grows in a number of habitat types, including forest and woodland.

Cistanthe umbellata (formerly Calyptridium umbellatum) is a species of flowering plant in the purslane family known by the common name Mount Hood pussypaws. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California to Colorado, where it grows in a number of habitat types, including in areas inhospitable to many plant types, such as those with alpine climates. It is a perennial herb forming generally two or more basal rosettes of thick, spoon-shaped leaves each a few centimeters long. The inflorescence arises from the rosette, a dense, spherical umbel of rounded sepals and four small petals.

Island Morning-glory (Calystegia macrostegia) is a stunning evergreen vine with large pale pink flowers that bloom from February to July, providing a long flowering season. It has lush, arrow-shaped green leaves and climbs with tendrils.

Thriving in full sun near the coast and part-shade inland, it adapts to nearly any soil type. A fast grower, it is ideal for covering fences, walls, or as a groundcover. Weekly watering keeps it looking its best, and trimming back in winter encourages a full, vibrant display the following spring.

Developed from cuttings taken from Anacapa Island, it is also known as Anacapa Pink. Its flowers support bees, making it both beautiful and beneficial for wildlife.

Horticultural selection from Calystegia macrostegia from Anacapa Island. Island Morning Glory is a twining vine with large pale pink flowers. Calystegia macrostegia is native in rocky areas of chaparral, coastal sage scrub on most of the Channel Islands. In interior gardens we advise providing some afternoon shade,but it takes full sun near the coast. In coastal gardens it is glorious for fence lines or to cover an unsightly wall, but is also an excellent groundcover. It has a long flowering cycle and lush green leaves. It is best trimmed back in winter for a full, lush look the next spring.

Horticultural selection C. macrostegia: origin = cuttings from Anacapa Island; intro University of California, Los Angeles 19__ Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. A selection for the garden from Anacapa Island.

Southern California Morning Glory (Calystegia macrostegia ssp. arida) is a native perennial herb or vine that grows in Northern, Southern and Central California, primarily in the Transverse Range and Peninsular Range regions. It tends to grow in dry and rocky places, at elevations from 0-3300 feet.

Coast Morning Glory (Calystegia macrostegia ssp. cyclostegia) is a native perennial herb or vine that grows in Southern and Central California, primarily in the Central Coast and South Coast regions. It tends to grow in dry and rocky places, at elevations from 0-3300 feet.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Island Morning Glory (Calystegia macrostegia ssp. macrostegia) is a native perennial herb or vine that grows in Southern and Northern California, primarily in the Channel Islands region. It tends to grow in dry and rocky places, at elevations from 0-1600 feet.

Island False Bindweed (Calystegia macrostegia ssp. tenuifolia) is a native perennial herb or vine that grows in Southern and Central California, primarily in the South Coast Range, the South Coast and Peninsular Range regions. It tends to grow in dry and rocky places, at elevations from 0-1600 feet.

Calystegia malacophylla is a species of morning glory known by the common name Sierra false bindweed. It is endemic to California, where it grows in several of the mountain ranges, including the Central Coast Ranges and the Sierra Nevada. This is a rhizomatous perennial herb with a woolly stem growing to lengths of 10 centimeters to nearly a meter. It generally does not climb as do many other morning glories. The leaves are vaguely kidney-shaped to triangular and pointed, and reach a few centimeters in length. The foliage is covered in a short coat of woolly white hairs, giving the plant a light greenish gray color. The flower cluster holds a solitary white flower which is sometimes tinted with pink or yellow. The flower is 2 to 4 centimeters wide when open.

Jepson's Morning Glory (Calystegia malacophylla ssp. pedicellata) is a native perennial herb that grows in southern and central California. It tends to grow in dry slopes, at elevations from 1000-6200 feet.

Calystegia occidentalis is a species of morning glory known by the common name chaparral false bindweed. It is native to California and Oregon, where it grows in hilly and mountain habitat, such as woodland and chaparral slopes. It is a woody perennial herb producing spreading or twisting and climbing branches, usually quite hairy in texture. The small leaves are up to 4 centimeters long and lobed into various spade or arrowhead shapes. The flower cluster is one to four flowers atop a single peduncle, each bloom 2 to 5 centimeters wide and white to cream to yellow in color.

Calystegia purpurata is a species of morning glory known by the common name Pacific false bindweed. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the seaside scrub of the coastline and the chaparral of the coastal and inland valleys. It is a robust perennial herb growing from a woody caudex and extending spreading or climbing stems up to 70 centimeters. The lobed leaves are up to 5 centimeters long and generally triangular in shape. The flower cluster produces 1 to 5 flowers atop peduncles. The flower is a morning glory up to 5 centimeters wide, in color white, pink, purple, or white or cream with purple stripes.
This fast-growing plant need weekly to bi-weekly water to look their best and to keep their leaves. Good for covering shad structures.

Purple Western Morning Glory (Calystegia purpurata ssp. purpurata) is a native perennial herb that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow at elevations from 0-1000 feet.

The morning glory Calystegia soldanella (syn. Convolvulus soldanella) is a species of bindweed known by the common names seashore false bindweed and beach morning glory. It is a perennial vine which grows in beach sand and other coastal habitats on the west coast and selected areas on the east coast of North America, and across Europe into Asia. The plant bears fleshy stems, kidney-shaped leaves, and attractive morning glory flowers with corollas delicate pink to vivid lavender. They are insect-pollinated.

Camassia quamash, commonly known as camas, small camas, common camas, common camash or quamash, is a perennial herb. It is one species of the genus Camassia and is native to western North America in large areas of southern Canada and the northwestern United States, from British Columbia and Alberta to California and east from Washington state to Montana and Wyoming. Though the once-immense spreads of camas lands have diminished because of modern developments and agriculture, numerous camas prairies and marshes may still be seen today. In the Great Basin, expanded settlement by whites accompanied by turning cattle and hogs onto camas prairies greatly diminished food available to native tribes and increased tension between Native Americans and settlers and travelers. Both the Bannock and Nez Perce Wars began after Nez Perce became incensed at the failure of the US government to uphold treaties, and at settlers who plowed up their camas prairies, which they depended on for subsistence. Growth pattern. It is a perennial herbaceous monocot with leaves emerging from a persistent bulb in a basal rosette. Leaves, stems, and roots. The stems have a length between 30 and 90 centimetres (12 and 35 in). The leaves are basal and have a grass-like appearance. Inflorescence and fruit. The pale blue to deep blue flowers appear in late spring to early summer (May to June in their native habitat). They are arranged in a raceme at the end of the stem. Each of the radially symmetrical, star-shaped flowers has six petals. Taxonomy.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for the garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for the garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for the garden.

Smallflowered Camas (Camassia quamash ssp. breviflora) is a native perennial herb that grows in Central and Northern California, primarily in the Warner Mountains, the High Sierra Nevada and Modoc Plateau regions. It tends to grow in meadows and streamsides, at elevations from 4900-7200 feet.

Camissonia bistorta is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common names southern suncup and California suncup. It is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows in several types of plant community along the coast and in the coastal hills and mountain ranges. This is a hairy annual or perennial herb spreading from a basal rosette with stems reaching up to 80 centimeters long. Leaves are lance-shaped to narrowly arrowhead-shaped and sometimes toothed, and 1 to 12 centimeters in length. Toward the end of the spreading stems are nodding flower clusters of flowers, each flower with four bright yellow petals dotted with red at their bases. At the center are stamens and a protruding, nearly spherical stigma. The fruit is a straight or slightly coiled capsule up to 4 centimeters long.

Beach primrose (Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia), also known as beach suncup, forms sprawling carpets of vibrant yellow flowers on long, trailing stems that radiate from a central crown. The silvery grey-green leaves give the plant a soft, coastal aesthetic, while its four-petaled flowers, typical of suncups, open each morning and gradually fade from bright yellow to reddish by evening.

Beach Evening Primrose (Camissonia cheiranthifolia ssp. cheiranthifolia) is a native perennial herb that grows in Northern, Southern and Central California, primarily in the North Coast, the Central Coast and Channel Islands regions. It tends to grow in sandy slopes, at elevations from 0-300 feet.

Jurupa Hills Sun Cups (Camissonia ignota) is a native annual herb that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in clay fields and sandy slopes, at elevations from 300-3600 feet.

Camissonia micrantha is a species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family known by the common name miniature suncup. It is endemic to California, where it grows along the coast and in the coastal mountains as far north as the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as in the Central Valley. It grows in sandy areas in a number of habitats, from beaches to inland slopes. This is a small, hairy annual herb producing a basal rosette of leaves. The stem varies in morphology, approaching half a meter in erect height or quite short and flat, with or without branching. The larger leaves are located in the basal rosette; those on the stem are narrow and shorter. The flower cluster produces bears a number of flowers with petals less than 5 millimeters long. They are bright yellow and dry to a reddish color as they close. If the flower cluster is located on an erect stem it bends the stem over with its weight. The flowers self-pollinate. The fruit is a cylindrical capsule 1 to 2 centimeters long.

Camissonia pallida is a species of evening primrose known by the common name pale yellow suncup. It is native to the desert and scrub habitat of the region where Arizona, California, and Nevada meet. It is a roughly hairy annual herb growing in a low patch on the ground, sometimes producing an erect stem from the basal rosette. The herbage is gray-green to reddish green. The leaves are lance-shaped and up to 3 centimeters long. The nodding flower cluster produces flowers with yellow petals 2 to 13 millimeters long, each with small red markings near the bases. The fruit is a straight to tightly coiled capsule.

The Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) is a short to medium, slender, hairless, rhizomatous perennial in the bellflower family Campanulaceae. In Scotland, it is often known as the Bluebell, whereas elsewhere in Britain, "bluebell" refers to Hyacinthoides non-scripta. The species is very variable in form. It occurs as tetraploid or hexaploid populations in Britain and Ireland, but diploids occur widely in continental Europe. The root leaves are dark green, roundish, usually slightly toothed, with prominent hydathodes and may wither early or persist all season. The leaves on the flowering stems become progressively more linear and the upper ones are unstalked. The flowers usually have fivefold symmetry, although other variants are quite frequent. The flowers are usually pale blue, although white, pink and violet variants occur, 15 millimeter long, borne on long thin stalks either singly or in loose clusters. The petal lobes are short and curve outwards. The flowers are pollinated by bees (see illustration) but can self-pollinate. In common with other Campanulas, all parts of the plant exude white latex when injured or broken. The seeds are produced in a capsule about 3-4 millimeter diameter. The seeds are released by decay of the capsule wall.

Campanula scouleri is a species of bellflower known by the common names pale bellflower and Scouler's harebell. It is native to the mountains of western North America from northern California to Alaska. It is a rhizomatous perennial herb producing an erect or leaning stem 20 to 30 centimeters long. The leaves are thin to leathery, lance-shaped to round, and generally toothed, measuring 1 to 6 centimeters long and borne on short winged petioles. The pale blue bell-shaped flower has a strongly reflexed corolla with lobes curling back and sometimes almost touching. The style protrudes far from the center of the flower; it is blue in color and up to 1. 5 centimeters long.

Cardamine breweri is a species of cardamine known by the common name Brewer's bittercress. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California to Colorado, where it grows in coniferous forests, particularly in wet bog habitats. Cardamine breweri is a perennial herb growing up to about half a meter in maximum height. The leaves are oval in shape and sometimes divided into a few smaller leaflets. The mustardlike inflorescence is a raceme of many white flowers, each with four petals half a centimeter long. The fruit is an erect silique up to 3 centimeters long containing many small seeds. Cardamine breweri is a perennial herb growing up to about half a meter in maximum height. The leaves are oval in shape and sometimes divided into a few smaller leaflets. The mustardlike inflorescence is a raceme of many white flowers, each with four petals half a centimeter long. The fruit is an erect silique up to 3 centimeters long containing many small seeds.

Cardamine californica (Milkmaids) (also Dentaria californica) is a flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae, native to western North America from Washington to California and Baja California. It is common in a variety of habitats including shady slopes, open woodlands, chaparral and grasslands in the winter and early spring. In the San Francisco Bay Area, it is one of the first wildflowers to bloom, with blossoms from January to May. Cardamine californica is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to about 1 foot tall. The flowers are produced on a spike, each flower about 1/2 inch in diameter with four white petals. The flower closes its petals in late afternoon as the sun goes down and nods its pedicel before a rain, protecting the pollen. Hand pollination of two milkmaids populations in the San Francisco Presidio improved seed set from 8% to 85%, with seeds ripening in about 53 days.

Cardamine nuttallii is a species of cardamine known by the common name Nuttall's toothwort. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California, where it grows in moist mountain habitats. Cardamine nuttallii is a perennial herb growing from a small, white rhizome. It produces a thin, unbranching stem under 20 centimeters tall. The leaves are smooth or lobed along the edges and sometimes divided into a few smaller leaflets. The inflorescence bears generally more than one pale purple, pink, or occasionally white flowers with petals each over a centimeter long. The fruit is a silique up to 4 centimeters long.

Cardionema ramosissimum is a beach-dwelling plant of the pink family, Caryophyllaceae, which is known by the common name sandcarpet. This is a flat or clumping mat-forming perennial plant which grows along the coastline of western North America, as well as Chile. >From a taproot it extends many petite to sprawling stems up to 30 centimeters long and covered in very tiny leaves, which are about a centimeter long and needlelike. Filling in the spaces between the spine-shaped leaves are long stipules. The plant bears tiny woolly flowers. This thick plant forms a blanket on the sand and can be used for erosion control on beaches.

Carex comosa is a species of sedge known by the common name longhair sedge. It is native to North America, where it grows in western and eastern regions of Canada and the United States, and parts of Mexico. It grows in wet places, including meadows and many types of wetlands. Tolerates deeper water than most common species and is good for retention basins. This sedge produces clumps of triangular stems up to 100 or 120 centimeters tall from short rhizomes. The flower cluster is up to 35 centimeters long and has a long leaf which is longer than the spikes. It is a cluster of several cylindrical spikes. The scales over the fruits taper into long, thin awns.

Carex concinnoides is a species of sedge known by the common name northwestern sedge. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California, where it can be found in moist or dry habitat, often in woodland and forested slopes, on silty and clay soils. This sedge produces loose clumps of stems up to about 35 centimeters in maximum height from long rhizomes. The leaves are thick but narrow, sickle-shaped, and pale green in color. Inflorescences occur at the stem tips, and some pistillate inflorescences grow from nodes along the stem. The spikelets have purplish bracts. The pistillate flowers have four stigmas on each pistil, an identifying characteristic. The fruit is coated in a sac called a perigynium, which is white to light brown in color, purple-tipped, and covered in hairs.

Dense Sedge (Carex densa) is a native grass that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in wet places, at elevations from 0-4800 feet.

Carex douglasii is a species of sedge known by the common name Douglas' sedge. It is native to much of western North America, including the western Canadian provinces, the western United States, and Baja California. It grows in dry, wet, and seasonally moist habitat, from prairie and grassland to marshes. It is tolerant of sandy and alkaline substrates. This sedge produces triangular stems up to about 40 centimeters high from thin rhizomes. The leaves are thick but narrow and sometimes rolled. The plant is dioecious, with male and female flowers occurring on different individuals. The pistillate flower cluster is distinctive, with female flowers bearing long, protruding, persistent stigmas that tangle together into a wide mass.

Carex echinata is a species of sedge known by the common names star sedge and little prickly sedge. This plant is native to North and Central America and parts of Eurasia. It has a solid, ridged stem that may exceed a meter in height and it has a few thready leaves toward the base. The flower clusters are star-shaped spikelets and are 3 to 15 millimeters wide. This is a plant of wet forests, marshes, and mountain meadows of moderate elevation. It is commonly associated with peat bogs.

Carex geyeri is a species of sedge known by the common names Geyer's sedge and elk sedge. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California to Colorado, where it grows in dry areas in mountain meadows, grasslands, and open forest. This sedge produces scattered tufts of stems connected by a network of long rhizomes. The stems are triangular in cross-section and approach half a meter in maximum height. The flower cluster is composed of a cluster of staminate flowers and a cluster of pistillate flowers separated by a node.

Olney's Hairy Sedge (Carex gynodynama) is a native grass that grows in central and northern California. It tends to grow in moist meadows and open places, at elevations from 0-2000 feet.

Carex heteroneura is a species of sedge known by the common name different-nerve sedge. It is native to western Canada and the western United States, where it grows in moist mountain habitat such as forests and meadows. This sedge produces clumps of stems up to a meter-3 feet tall, often much shorter. The plant is variable in appearance, including in the appearance of its identifying characters, such as the scales on the flowers and the perigynia on the fruits. In general the spikes are oblong or cylindrical and dense with bicolored spikelets. The perigynium is greenish or purplish and has a short, rounded tip. This sedge produces clumps of stems up to a meter-3 feet tall, often much shorter. The plant is variable in appearance, including in the appearance of its identifying characters, such as the scales on the flowers and the perigynia on the fruits. In general the spikes are oblong or cylindrical and dense with bicolored spikelets. The perigynium is greenish or purplish and has a short, rounded tip.

Carex hystericina is a species of sedge known by the common names bottlebrush sedge and porcupine sedge. It is native to much of North America including most of southern Canada and most of the United States. It grows in wet habitat such as wetlands and riverbanks, especially on calcareous soils. In the right conditions it can become very abundant and even weedy. This sedge produces dense or loose clumps of triangular stems up to a meter tall from short rhizomes. The flower cluster is several centimeters long and is accompanied by a leaf which is longer than the spikes. The fruits are coated in perigynia with pointed, toothed tips. It is highly recommend for sedge meadow restorations.

Smoothstem Sedge (Carex laeviculmis) is a native grass that grows in central and northern California. It tends to grow in moist area, at elevations from 2300-6000 feet.

Carex lasiocarpa is a species of sedge known by the common names slender sedge and woollyfruit sedge. This is an aquatic or shore plant of wet areas in mountainous areas of moderate elevation. It is found across much of North America and Eurasia. It is colonial, forming thick, floating mats on the water in wetlands and monotypic stands on shorelines and lakesides. From a rhizome it bears erect stems which may exceed a meter in height and very long, very thin leaves. The stem has one to several compact pistillate spikes and at the tip one longer, fluffy staminate spike. The pistillate spike vaguely resembles a tiny purplish or brownish ear of corn, with several ovaries which each form a fruit.

Carex lenticularis is a species of sedge known by the common name lakeshore sedge. It is native to much of northern North America, including most all of Canada and the western United States, where it grows in wet habitat. This sedge produces clumps of slender, greenish yellow, angled stems. The flower cluster bears erect spikes with a long leaf exceeding the length of the spikes. The fruit is covered in a green, sometimes purple-dotted perigynium beneath a brown or black flower scale.

Carex lyngbyei is a species of sedge known by the common name Lyngbye's sedge. It is native to the west coast of North America from Alaska to California, where it "is the common sedge of the Pacific coastal salt marshes." It is also known from Greenland and Iceland. It grows in habitat with brackish water, such as salt marshes. This sedge produces stems 25 centimeters to well over one meter tall from a network of long rhizomes. The leaves have reddish brown sheaths which do not have spots. The flower cluster produces stiff, nodding spikes on peduncles. The fruit is coated in a leathery yellowish brown sac called a perigynium. This is a pioneer species, one of the first plants to colonize the mud of tidal flats in its range.

Carex mertensii is a species of sedge known by the common name Mertens' sedge. It is native to western North America from Alaska to California to Montana, where it grows in moist and wet habitat in mountain forests and meadows. This sedge produces clumps of stems reaching maximum heights between 80 and 120 centimeters. The leaves are small; those toward the bases of the stems are reduced to sheaths only. The flower cluster is a densely packed, bullet shaped cluster of overlapping flowers, mainly hanging on long peduncles. Each flower cluster is generally 2 to 4 centimeters long. Each of the flowers has a dark-colored leaf.

Carex multicaulis is a species of sedge known by the common name manystem sedge. It is native to California, western Nevada, and southern Oregon, where it grows in chaparral and open forest montane habitats. This reedlike sedge produces clumps of narrow stems up to 50 or 60 centimeters tall, with short, folded or rolled leaves. The inflorescence is a narrow cluster of spike-shaped staminate flowers above a cluster of more rounded pistillate flowers. This reedlike sedge produces clumps of narrow stems up to 50 or 60 centimeters tall, with short, folded or rolled leaves. The inflorescence is a narrow cluster of spike-shaped staminate flowers above a cluster of more rounded pistillate flowers.

Carex nebrascensis is a species of sedge known by the common name Nebraska sedge. It is native to the western and central United States and into central Canada, where it grows in wetlands. It tolerates alkaline soils and submersion for long periods of time. This sedge produces upright, angled, spongy stems up to about 90 centimeters tall. The waxy, bluish leaves form tufts around the base of each stem. The root system is a very dense network of rhizomes. The flower cluster includes a few narrow staminate spikes above some wider pistillate spikes on short peduncles. The fruit is covered in a tough, slightly inflated sac called a perigynium which sometimes has a pattern of red spotting. Uses for this sedge include forage for livestock and wild animals, wetland restoration, control of erosion and soil compaction, and natural wetland wastewater treatment.