It is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, where it can be found throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.

It grows in a wide variety of wet habitats, including wetlands, meadows, bogs, and lakeshores.

This sedge produces clumps of triangular stems up to 90 centimeters long.

The leaves have white-edged, red-dotted sheaths and are up to about 30 centimeters long.

The inflorescence is simple or sometimes compound, made up of several clusters of stiff light brown spikes.