Grasses, rushes, and sedges look a lot alike. They all have narrow leaves that grow from the base, and they all produce flowers. But each belongs to a different botanical family. To learn more on how to tell them apart, click here.

Disclaimer

The photos used below are the property of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the individual photographers of the USDA, and respective individual contributors of the Wikimedia Commons. The usage of these photos is for education purposes only. The University of Iowa Office of Sustainability does not claim credit to any of the photo sources.

USDA image of side-oats grama

Side-oats Grama

Bouteloua curtipendula

Plant type: Grass

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: Yes

USDA image of prairie brome

Prairie Brome

Bromus kalmii

Plant type: Grass

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: Yes

USDA image of blue joint grass

Blue Joint Grass

Calamagrostis canadensis

Plant type: Grass

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of small yellow fox sedge

Small Yellow Fox Sedge

Carex annectens

Plant type: Sedge

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of copper shouldered oval sedge

Copper-shouldered Oval Sedge

Carex bicknelli

Plant type: Sedge

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of plains oval sedge

Plains Oval Sedge

Carex brevior

Plant type: Sedge

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: No

USDA image of long-awned bracted sedge

Long-awned Bracted Sedge

Carex gravida

Plant type: Sedge

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: No

USDA image of porcupine sedge

Porcupine Sedge

Carex hystericina

Plant type: Sedge

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of awl-fruited sedge

Awl-fruited Sedge

Carex stipata

Plant type: Sedge

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of common tussock sedge

Common Tussock Sedge

Carex stricta

Plant type: Sedge

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of awl-fruited oval sedge

Awl-fruited Oval Sedge

Carex tribuloides

Plant type: Sedge

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of brown fox sedge

Brown Fox Sedge

Carex vulpinoidea

Plant type: Sedge

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: Yes

USDA image of bald spikerush

Bald Spikerush

Eleocharis erythropoda

Plant type: Sedge

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of virginia wildrye grass

Virginia Wildrye

Elymus virginicus

Plant type: Grass

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of fowl manna grass

Fowl Mannagrass

Glyceria striata

Plant type: Grass

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of canadian rush

Canadian Rush

Juncus canadensis

Plant type: Rush

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of dudley's rush

Dudley's Rush

Juncus dudleyi

Plant type: Rush

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: Yes

USDA image of inland rush

Inland Rush

Juncus interior

Plant type: Rush

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of path rush

Path Rush

Juncus tenuis

Plant type: Rush

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: No

USDA image of torrey's rush plant

Torrey's Rush

Juncus torreyi

Plant type: Rush

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of June grass

Prairie Junegrass

Koeleria macrantha

Plant type: Grass

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: Yes

USDA image of Scribner's panic grass

Scribner's Panic Grass

Panicum oligosanthes

Plant type: Grass

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: No

USDA image of switchgrass

Switchgrass

Panicum virgatum

Plant type: Grass

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of prairie wedge grass

Prairie Wedge Grass

Sphenopolis obtusata

Plant type: Grass

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Spring 2020

Observed: No

USDA image of prairie dropseed grass

Prairie Dropseed

Sporobolus heterolepis

Plant type: Grass

Native/Invasive: Native

Sowed: Fall 2021

Observed: No