Carex macrochaeta, commonly known as Longawn Sedge, Large-Awned Sedge, Alaska Large Awn Sedge, Alaska Long-Awned Sedge, or Big-Awn Sedge, is a perennial herbaceous plant native to the moist meadows, forest openings, and stream banks of Western North America, including Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. It exhibits a moderate growth rate and typically reaches a height of 1-2.5 feet (0.3-0.8 meters) with a similar spread of 1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 meters). This sedge forms dense clumps of narrow, grass-like leaves and produces brown or green flowers that are not particularly showy, blooming in the spring and summer. The inflorescences are composed of spikelets with long, bristly awns, which give the plant its common name.

Longawn Sedge is valued for its ability to thrive in wet conditions and is often used in rain gardens, naturalized areas, and as a ground cover in moist, shaded gardens. It is also suitable for erosion control on stream banks. This sedge prefers full sun to part shade and grows best in medium draining loam or clay soils, with consistent moisture. While generally low-maintenance, it can be susceptible to rust and leaf spot diseases. Carex macrochaeta is not known for aggressive roots or significant spread, but it can self-seed in ideal conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0