Carex umbrosa (commonly known as shady sedge), is a species of sedge native to Europe and Asia as far east as Japan.
Carex umbrosa is a perennial, tussock-forming, rhizomatous, grass-like plant, reaching about 15 cm in height. Leaves are flat-bladed, green, growing between 15 and 20 cm in height. Inflorescence is a spike, brown in colour, flowering in early summer.
The following infraspecifics are accepted:
This species grows throughout Europe to the Caucasus, Mongolia to Russian Far East and Korea. As the name suggests, it prefers shady conditions, and is commonly found in moist, acidic clay soil in forested locations.