Carex buchanii - Leatherleaf Sedge

Carex buchanii – Leatherleaf Sedge

Price range: £8.50 through £10.00

SKU: CARX5102 Categories: , , Tags: , ,

Frequently Bought Together

Carex buchanii - Leatherleaf Sedge - 2L
+
Compost - 50L
Total: £19.00

Description

Quick Facts

  • Common Name: Leatherleaf Sedge, Red Fox Sedge
  • Botanical Name: Carex buchanii
  • Plant Type: Evergreen ornamental grass
  • Mature Height: 60-80 centimetres
  • Mature Spread: 40-60 centimetres
  • Growth Rate: Moderate
  • Flowering Period: June-July (insignificant brown spikes)
  • Foliage: Copper-bronze to russet-red, curling tips
  • Hardiness: Hardy (RHS H5)
  • Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil
  • Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
  • Maintenance: Low maintenance

Description

Prepare to be utterly captivated by one of nature’s most artistic creations! Carex buchanii is like having a living sculpture in your garden – a grass so extraordinary in colour and form that it seems to have been crafted by the most imaginative artist. This remarkable sedge brings a warmth and richness to the garden that’s simply impossible to achieve with any other plant.
Picture fountains of the most gorgeous copper-bronze foliage, each slender blade catching the light like burnished metal. As the seasons progress, the colour deepens and intensifies, moving through shades of russet, amber, and rich fox-red that seem to glow from within. The tips of each blade curl gracefully, creating the most delightful textural interest that adds movement and personality to every planting scheme.
What makes this sedge truly magical is how it changes throughout the day and seasons. In morning light, it appears soft and golden; by afternoon, it’s transformed into rich copper; and in winter, it becomes a beacon of warm colour when the rest of the garden has faded to grey and brown. It’s like having a constantly changing piece of garden art that never fails to surprise and delight.
The naturally arching habit creates perfect clumps that work beautifully as specimen plants, in drifts, or woven through mixed borders where they provide year-round structure and that incredible colour that makes everything around it look more vibrant and alive.

Caragh Garden Notebook

Planting: Plant in moist, well-drained soil in full sun for the most intense colouration, though partial shade is perfectly acceptable. Excellent for bog gardens, pond margins, or anywhere the soil doesn’t dry out completely. Thrives in clay soils that many other grasses struggle with.
Spacing: Allow 40-60 centimetres between plants for individual clumps, or plant in groups of three or five for dramatic impact. The arching habit means they need room to show off their natural grace.
Aftercare: Very low maintenance once established. Cut back to ground level in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Benefits from consistent moisture during dry spells. Divide clumps every 3-4 years to maintain vigour.
Companion Planting: Absolutely stunning with blue or purple flowers – try with agapanthus, salvias, or late-flowering asters. Beautiful contrast with silver foliage plants like artemisia or lamb’s ear. Pairs wonderfully with other ornamental grasses for textural variety.
British Climate Notes: Perfectly suited to our moist climate and actually benefits from our regular rainfall. The copper tones are particularly striking against our often grey skies. Provides excellent winter structure and colour when many other plants look dormant.
Design Tips: Essential for contemporary gardens, stunning in prairie-style plantings, excellent for adding warm tones to cool colour schemes, and perfect for creating year-round interest in mixed borders. The unique colour makes it an excellent focal point or accent plant.

Additional information

Pot Size

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