Carex buchananii

The most interesting thing about the Carex family is their ability to withstand both drought AND occasional flooding.

They are used in bio-swales in many urban areas for this very reason.

What is a bio-swale? I’m glad you asked!

Bio-swales are essentially intentional, planted ditches – like the space between the street and the sidewalk.

When there is too much rain, the sewer systems become overwhelmed by the runoff and the streets end up flooding.

By implementing bio-swales (and using plants such as the Carex family), some of the stormwater can be absorbed before the sewer systems are overwhelmed.

AND, the bio-swales can help pollutants from accumulating downstream by absorbing and filtering them “at the source.”