Description
Carex buchananii is sometimes referred to as Leatherleaf sedge. It is endemic to New Zealand, being found on both the North and South Islands. In the South Island, it is found more widely from the coast to the mountains growing on beaches and lake and stream margins. It is an upright tufted sedge with reddish-brown foliage. Best in moist soils, Carex buchananii is found in coastal to montane environments. It thrives on beaches, lagoon, lake, and stream margins, as well as in damp ground within open forests or short tussock grasslands.
Carex buchananii, an appealing native ornamental grass, showcases exceptionally fine, bronze-cinnamon leaves featuring delicate tips that are both bleached and curled. This sedge presents itself as a dense, upright clump typically growing to 60 cm in height and width, it flourishes in full sun or partial shade on well-drained sites.
Tolerant of wind, frost, and drought, Carex buchananii is often included in mixed plantings, either mass-planted as a groundcover or on a bank, utilized in rock gardens, or cultivated in containers. Its presence in the garden provides outstanding colour contrast. While it can tolerate various conditions, thriving best in full sun within consistently damp soil, this species can, under ideal circumstances, naturalize and, at times, become invasive. Alongside C. comans, Carex buchanani is one of the most frequently cultivated indigenous sedges.
