Family
Cyperaceae
Botanical Name
Carex buchananii 'Viridis'
Plant Common Name
Buchanan's Sedge, Green Leatherleaf Sedge, Leatherleaf Sedge
General Description
This is an eye-catching graceful sedge native to New Zealand. The slender grassy leaves grow in a clump shaped like a fountain. Though it much resembles an ornamental grass, it comes from a different family all together, and like many of its fellow sedges, is more versatile than grasses, being tolerant of both full sun and partial sun and moist to almost-wet soils. The tiny flowers appear in clusters atop thin stems in mid-summer and are negligible. This is a plant to grow for its shimmery, silvery-green leaves. In warm climates, it is perennial; in cool to cold climates it is perennial. Remove the browned, dormant leaves to make way for the new leaves in spring.
Grow this plant in sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained soil. Use it for its contrasts of texture and habit in containers, mixed beds and mixed borders. Or plant it as edging for walkways, or massed as a groundcover.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
9 - 5
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USDA Hardiness Zone
7 - 9
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Sunset Zone
2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Sedge or Rush
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer
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Native To
New Zealand
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Insignificant
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Flower Color
Gray Green, Sandy Brown
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Blue Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Blue Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Blue Green
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Fine
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Foliage Sheen
Glossy
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Container, Edging, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Self-Sowing
No
