Leatherleaf sedge (Carex buchananii) KARE-eks bew-kan-AN-ee-eye Genus:  Carex Two-foot-tall, stiff, orange-brown blades curve at the end like a shepherd’s staff. Burnished red-bronze foliage, which fades to flax at the tips, gives off a warm glow when backlit by the sun. Noteworthy Characteristics:  Self-seeds modestly, and by the third year, the mother plant may die back. Care:  Grow in fertile, moist or wet soil in sun or part shade. Propagation:  Sow seed in containers and overwinter in a cold frame. Divide between spring and early summer. Problems:  Rust, smut and leaf spot. Aphids are possible.

Overview

Height 1 ft. to 3 ft. Spread 1 ft. to 3 ft. Growth Habit Spreads Growth Pace Slow Grower Light Full Sun to Part Shade Moisture Medium Moisture Maintenance Low Characteristics Self Seeds, Showy Foliage Bloom Time Fall Flower Color Brown Foliage Color Colorful/Burgundy Foliage Uses Beds and Borders, Container, Naturalizing, Roadside Style Rock Garden Seasonal Interest Spring Interest Type Rushes and Sedges