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Auburn Cascade Sedge

Carex flagellifera (KAY-reks fla-gel-LIH-fer-uh)

Family: Cyperaceae Unknown Herbaceous (1-3 ft)

Weeping brown sedge is a tuft-forming herbaceous perennial in the sedge family (Cyperaceae) from Tasmania and New Zealand. The species epithet is Latin for “whip-bearing” and refers to the very slender leaves that are like whips. The plant needs an average moist garden soil, in either full sun or partial shade. This plant is perennial under mild conditions, but it may be killed outright if winter temperatures dip below 5 degrees Fahrenheit for some time. Weeping brown sedge is an evergreen to semi-evergreen sedge with interesting arching leaves that add dramatic color and fine foliage to your garden. This sedge is low-maintenance and provides year-round interest. It may be used in a container or as a ground cover. In addition, in low borders, it provides a wonderful contrast and does well adjacent to water features. Use in shade gardens, riparian gardens, sensory gardens (for the fine-textured foliage) and winter gardens. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. More information on Carex .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 47 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Carex albula
Native alternatives Carex glaucescens Carex grayi

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Annual; Ground Cover; Herbaceous Perennial; Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Life cycle
Annual; Perennial
USDA zones
7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Clumping; Dense
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Gray/Silver; Green; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Filiform
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Papery
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves grow from a dense fountain-like clump and are up to 2 feet long and 1/2 inch wide with entire margins.
Flower form
Insignificant
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
New Zealand, Chatham Islands, Tasmania
Attracts
Small Mammals
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Achene
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Small Space; Walkways; Woodland
Landscape theme
Rain Garden; Rock Garden; Shade Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Border; Mass Planting; Small groups
Garden tags
#yellow leaves #ornamental grass #bronze #full sun tolerant #brown #low maintenance #fall interest #sedge #border planting #year-round interest #heat tolerant #deer resistant #HS302 #container plant #pest resistant #partial shade tolerant #perennial
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Deer; Heat; Insect Pests
Propagation
Division

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.