Plants colonial; rhizomes long-creeping. Culms lateral, trigonous, 25–90 cm, scabrous-angled. Leaves: basal sheaths reddish purple, bladeless, apex of inner band glabrous; ligules 1.2–9 mm; blades green, M-shaped, 2.2–5.5 mm wide, glabrous or finely pubescent beyond ligule. Inflorescences 3–10 cm; peduncles of terminal spikes 2–20 mm; proximal 1–2(–3) spikes pistillate or androgynous, ascending; distal spikes erect; terminal 1(–2) spikes staminate. Pistillate scales ovate, apex acute to acuminate, glabrous, apical margins often scabrous-ciliate. Perigynia ascending, 10–14-veined, broadly ovoid, 2.8–4.5 × 1.3–2.1 mm, densely pubescent, pubescence nearly concealing veins and cellular details; beak 0.9–1.4 mm, friable, erose.

Fruiting May–Jun. Dry to moist, open, sandy or gravelly meadows, open woods in acidic soils; 0–400 m; Ala., Conn., Del., D.C., Maine, Md., Mass., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Pa., R.I., Tenn., Va.

Carex vestita is long persistent in shaded conditions and is stimulated to flower and fruit by fire or other disturbance.