Porcupine Sedge - Carex hystericina

Carex hystericina, Porcupine Sedge, is a perennial sedge native to Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. This one is a lover of wetlands and grows best in wet to moist soil with full to partial sun. It prefers organic-rich soils but will grow in a variety of soil types. Porcupine sedge can even tolerate seasonal flooding.
 
The real news about this sedge is its texture. The graceful foliage stands tall or arches under the spiky seed structures that lend it its common name. Fortunately the resemblance is visual and the seed clusters are not sharp. This is a fantastic sedge for rain gardens, ditches, riverbanks and other areas with regular moisture. It is clump-forming and reaches about 3 feet tall.
 
Like most sedges, Porcupine Sedge supports a lot of life, including grasshoppers, beetles, stem-borers, moth caterpillars, and even hosts the Eyed Brown and several skipper butterflies. Illinois Wildflowers reports that the seeds are an important food source for waterfowl and songbirds, but the insects are even more important for supporting most birds through the nesting season.