Carex buchananii: Leatherleaf Sedge with Copper-Bronze Foliage

Carex buchananii – Burnished Red-Bronze Blades

Two-foot stiff, orange-brown blades curve like a shepherd's staff. Burnished red-bronze foliage fades to flax at tips, glowing warmly when backlit. Self-seeds modestly; mother plant may die back by third year.

Culture

Fertile, moist or wet soil in sun or part shade. Propagate by seed in containers overwintered in cold frame, divide between spring and early summer. Pests: rust, smut, leaf spot, aphids.

At a Glance

• Height/Spread: 1–3 ft.
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Moisture: Medium
• Bloom: Fall (brown)
• Foliage: Colorful/burgundy (copper-bronze)
• Uses: Borders, containers, naturalizing, rock gardens