The Carex buchananii ‘Red Rooster’ is a genus from the sedge family (Cyperaceae) and is commonly called leatherleaf sedge. The Carex buchananii ‘Red Rooster’ is native to New Zealand.
The leatherleaf sedge is a beautiful, grass-like plant with thin, upright, reddish-brown leaves with triangular stems. The Carex buchananii ‘Red Rooster’ forms tufts that slowly grow wider over time. The colour may give the leaves a dried out look, even though they are healthy and growing normally.
The Carex buchananii ‘Red Rooster’ may look like an ornamental grass, but it is not a grass.
The flowers do not have much ornamental value. The Carex buchananii ‘Red Rooster’ self-seeds quite readily. The seedlings are easy to remove if they grow in an unwanted spot so that is not a problem.
The leaves may die back when it is too cold in the winter but new leaves will form in spring. You can remove the dead leaves in spring to make room for the new growth.
The leatherleaf sedge prefers a sunny spot with well-drained, moist soil.
Attracts bees: no
Characteristic: evergreen
Exposure: sun/part shade
Flower colour: brown
Flowering time: June – July
Foliage colour: red/brown
Fragrant flower: no
Hardiness: -20 ºC/-4 ºF
Height: 50 cm/20 inches
Soil: normal/moist