Ask Difference

Grass vs. Sedge — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 31, 2023
Grass has jointed, hollow stems and narrow leaves, common in lawns; sedge has solid, triangular stems, and often thrives in moist areas.
Grass vs. Sedge — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Grass and Sedge

ADVERTISEMENT

Key Differences

Grass, found in lawns and fields, has hollow, cylindrical stems, while sedge stems are solid and often triangular in cross-section.
Sedge often grows in wet environments, like marshes, contrasting with the wide range of habitats where grass thrives.
Grass leaves are usually narrow and flat; sedge leaves are stiffer and more angular, sometimes forming a V shape.
In terms of reproduction, grasses generally have feathery flowers, while sedges produce more compact, spiky inflorescences.
Maintenance-wise, grass often needs regular mowing in lawns; sedges can be low-maintenance, especially in natural settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Comparison Chart

Stem Structure

Hollow and cylindrical
Solid and triangular

Preferred Habitat

Various, including lawns
Often moist areas, like marshes

Leaf Shape

Narrow and flat
Stiff, angular, V-shaped

Flower Type

Feathery
Compact and spiky

Maintenance

Requires mowing in lawns
Generally low-maintenance

Compare with Definitions

Grass

Part of the Poaceae family.
Wheat is a type of grass.

Sedge

Produces compact, spiky flowers.
The sedge bloomed in spring.

Grass

A member of the grass family.

Sedge

Part of the Cyperaceae family.
Many sedge species are used in landscaping.

Grass

The members of the grass family considered as a group.

Sedge

Commonly found in wet areas.
The marsh was full of sedge.

Grass

Any of various plants having slender leaves similar to those of a grass.

Sedge

A plant with solid, often triangular stems.
Sedge thrived near the pond.

Grass

Ground, as on a lawn, that is covered with grass or similar plants.

Sedge

Has stiff, angular leaves.
The sedge leaves were sharp.

Grass

Grazing land; pasture.

Sedge

Any of numerous grasslike plants of the family Cyperaceae, characteristically having solid three-sided stems, leaves arranged in three rows, and spikelets of inconspicuous flowers.

Grass

(Slang) Marijuana.

Sedge

Any plant of the genus Carex, the true sedge, perennial, endogenous herbs, often growing in dense tufts in marshy places. They have triangular jointless stems, a spiked inflorescence, and long grasslike leaves which are usually rough on the margins and midrib. There are several hundred species.

Grass

(Electronics) Small variations in amplitude of an oscilloscope display caused by electrical noise.

Sedge

Any plant of the family Cyperaceae.

Grass

Chiefly British Slang An informer.

Sedge

Any of certain other plants resembling sedges, such as Gentiana rubricaulis and Andropogon virginicus.

Grass

To cover with grass.

Sedge

(fishing) A dry fly used in fly fishing, designed to resemble a sedge or caddis fly.

Grass

To grow grass on.

Sedge

Obsolete spelling of siege

Grass

To feed (livestock) with grass.

Sedge

A flock of herons, cranes, or bitterns.

Grass

To become covered with grass.

Sedge

Any plant of the genus Carex, perennial, endogenous, innutritious herbs, often growing in dense tufts in marshy places. They have triangular jointless stems, a spiked inflorescence, and long grasslike leaves which are usually rough on the margins and midrib. There are several hundred species.

Grass

To graze.

Sedge

A flock of herons.

Grass

Any plant of the family Poaceae, characterized by leaves that arise from nodes in the stem and leaf bases that wrap around the stem, especially those grown as ground cover rather than for grain.

Sedge

Grasslike or rushlike plant growing in wet places having solid stems, narrow grasslike leaves and spikelets of inconspicuous flowers

Grass

(countable) Various plants not in family Poaceae that resemble grasses.

Grass

(uncountable) A lawn.

Grass

Marijuana.

Grass

An informer, police informer; one who betrays a group (of criminals, etc) to the authorities.
What just happened must remain secret. Don't be a grass.

Grass

Sharp, closely spaced discontinuities in the trace of a cathode-ray tube, produced by random interference.

Grass

Noise on an A-scope or similar type of radar display.

Grass

The season of fresh grass; spring or summer.

Grass

That which is transitory.

Grass

Asparagus; "sparrowgrass".

Grass

(mining) The surface of a mine.

Grass

(transitive) To lay out on the grass; to knock down (an opponent etc.).

Grass

To act as a grass or informer, to betray; to report on (criminals etc) to the authorities.
Thesaurus:rat out

Grass

(transitive) To cover with grass or with turf.

Grass

(transitive) To feed with grass.

Grass

(transitive) To expose, as flax, on the grass for bleaching, etc.

Grass

(transitive) To bring to the grass or ground; to land.

Grass

Popularly: Herbage; the plants which constitute the food of cattle and other beasts; pasture.

Grass

An endogenous plant having simple leaves, a stem generally jointed and tubular, the husks or glumes in pairs, and the seed single.

Grass

The season of fresh grass; spring.
Two years old next grass.

Grass

Metaphorically used for what is transitory.
Surely the people is grass.

Grass

Marijuana.

Grass

To cover with grass or with turf.

Grass

To expose, as flax, on the grass for bleaching, etc.

Grass

To bring to the grass or ground; to land; as, to grass a fish.

Grass

To produce grass.

Grass

Narrow-leaved green herbage: grown as lawns; used as pasture for grazing animals; cut and dried as hay

Grass

German writer of novels and poetry and plays (born 1927)

Grass

Animal food for browsing or grazing

Grass

Street names for marijuana

Grass

Shoot down, of birds

Grass

Cover with grass;
The owners decided to grass their property

Grass

Spread out clothes on the grass to let it dry and bleach

Grass

Cover with grass

Grass

Feed with grass

Grass

Give away information about somebody;
He told on his classmate who had cheated on the exam

Grass

A common plant with jointed stems and narrow leaves.
The grass needs mowing.

Grass

Used for lawns and grazing.
Cows grazed on the grass.

Grass

Grows in a wide range of habitats.
Grass covered the hillside.

Grass

Often needs regular care in gardens.
He watered the grass daily.

Common Curiosities

Can sedge grow in dry conditions?

Some species can, but they prefer moisture.

Is sedge easy to maintain?

Generally, it requires less maintenance.

Can grass grow in shade?

Some species are shade-tolerant.

Are all grasses good for lawns?

No, some are better suited than others.

Do grasses need fertilizing?

Some types benefit from it.

What is grass commonly used for?

Lawns, pastures, and some grains.

Is grass edible for humans?

Some grains, like wheat, are edible.

Can grass be used for erosion control?

Yes, it's effective in many cases.

How often should grass be watered?

Depends on type and climate.

Can sedge be invasive?

Some species can be aggressive.

Are sedges ever used in gardens?

Yes, for texture and wet area planting.

Are there flowering sedges?

Yes, they produce distinctive flowers.

Is grass ever used for thatching roofs?

Yes, in some traditional practices.

Does sedge provide habitat for wildlife?

Yes, especially in wetlands.

Do sedges have any medicinal uses?

Some have been used traditionally.

Share Your Discovery

Share via Social Media
Embed This Content
Embed Code
Share Directly via Messenger
Link
Next Comparison
Mahogany vs. Teak

Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

Popular Comparisons

Trending Comparisons

New Comparisons

Trending Terms