Carex testacea
Orange New Zealand sedge
- Height × spread
- 0.5m × 0.75m
- Position
- Tolerates full sun, likes part shade
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
Availability
Generally available in Spring & Autumn
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This is a very striking plant, especially when the light catches the foliage on a winter's day. It has slender vertical leaves, which are pendulous at their tips. They are pale olive at the base turning to tawny orange at the top. The flowers, produced in pale brown spikes, are unexciting. It will tolerate drier conditions than most of its genus and it can thrive in a variety of habitats since it is found growing naturally everywhere from woods to sand dunes. For the best foliage colour it needs sun.
- Foliage colour
- Green, Orange
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Fan
- Height
- 0.5m
- Spread
- 0.75m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn, Winter
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Winter garden, Seaside garden, Prairie garden
- Sun or shade
- Tolerates full sun, likes part shade
- Soil type
- Loam (normal), Poor soil, Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Spring-Autumn · Planting
Remove dead leaves
When leaves die they can carefully be detached or cut off at their base to improve the overall appearance of the plant. Be careful not to damage the main stems during this process.
Summer
Summer · Planting
Remove offsets to create new plants
Offsets are small plants or shoots that develop around the parent plant. They should have developed a root system of their own before they are detached. They can be planted directly, or grown in pots if so small they could be 'lost' in the garden.
Offsets may be used to replace an aged parent plant, to extend or establish a colony, or can be given away or sold.
Found in
More Carex
Carex
Sedge
Carex 'Feather Falls'
Variegated Japanese sedge
Carex Milk Chocolate = 'Milchoc'
Milk chocolate hair sedge
Carex brunnea 'Jenneke'
Greater brown sedge
Carex buchananii
Leatherleaf sedge grass, Fox red sedge
Carex comans
New Zealand hairy sedge, Hair sedge, Green wig
Carex comans 'Frosted Curls'
Frosted curls hair sedge, New Zealand hairy sedge, Hair sedge, Green wig
Carex elata 'Aurea'
Bowles's golden sedge, Tufted sedge, Stiff sedge, European tussock sedge