Usually in rich deciduous forests,

Two well marked varieties, sometimes recognized as species, occur in our region:

 Carex laxiculmis var. copulata (L. H. Bailey) Fernald, with green leaves 4.5–9 mm wide often occurs on floodplains and richer, moster sites, often near streams. 

Carex  laxiculmis var. laxiculmis with glaucous leaves 6.5–11.5 mm wide occurs in drier sites, often on slopes and hummocks. Both have essentially the same range in Michigan, but var. copulata is more frequent.