Carex buchananii 'Red Rooster' is a striking ornamental sedge known for its fine upright coppery bronze foliage that brings year round texture and warm color to garden beds and containers. Its tousled fountain like form adds movement and contrast when planted with low growing or bold leafed companions. This grasslike perennial is evergreen in milder zones and thrives in full sun to part shade.
Height & Spread: 18 - 24 in x 12 - 18 in
Bloom Time: Summer (inconspicuous)
Light Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Soil Preference: Tolerates a range of well drained soils, including sandy and rocky types
Watering Needs: Low to moderate; prefers consistent moisture but tolerates brief drought
Deer Resistance: Not favored by deer due to narrow, wiry texture
Native Status
Carex buchananii is native to New Zealand. 'Red Rooster' is a cultivated variety selected for its intense bronze coloration and garden performance. It is not native to North America.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Birds
- Foliage clumps offer cover for small birds such as wrens and sparrows in winter and early spring especially when left uncut.
Beneficial Insects
- The dense base provides habitat for ground beetles and predatory insects that feed on garden pests like slugs and aphids.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 12 - 18 in apart to allow each clump to arch naturally and avoid overcrowding.
Landscape Placement:
- Ideal for containers, borders, or as an accent in rock gardens and modern prairie style plantings where its color and form stand out year round.
Companion Plants
- Sempervivum tectorum (Hens and Chicks) - Succulent rosettes create low growing mats that highlight the sedge’s form and thrive in similar soil conditions.
- Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue' - Cool blue tones enhance the copper hues of Carex and offer complementary spiky texture.
- Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb' - Fine textured yellow blooms echo the airy habit of 'Red Rooster' while brightening the scene.
- Gaillardia aristata 'Arizona Sun' - Red and gold daisy blooms harmonize with the sedge’s warm foliage and attract pollinators.
- Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' - Upright purple flower spikes contrast with the warm bronzy arching leaves of Carex.