Carex buchananii
Buchanan's Sedge is one of New Zealand's most distinctive and popular ornamental native grasses, renowned for its striking copper-bronze to cinnamon-brown foliage that provides outstanding color contrast in gardens year-round. Named after pioneering botanist John Buchanan, this elegant sedge forms dense, upright clumps with narrow leaves that arch gracefully at the tips. Found naturally from coastal areas to montane regions on damp ground and stream margins, it has become one of the most commonly cultivated indigenous sedges due to its easy-care nature and exceptional ornamental value. native grasses
Image credit: Buchanan's Sedge (Carex buchananii). Wikipedia
| Scientific Name | Carex buchananii |
|---|---|
| Height | 0.6 meters |
| Spread | 0.6 meters |
| Water Needs | Moderate to high |
| Light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Frost Tolerance | Excellent |
| Salt Tolerance | Good (coastal native) |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Lifespan | Long-lived perennial |
Buchanan's Sedge thrives throughout New Zealand from coastal to montane areas up to 1000 meters elevation. It's adaptable to most New Zealand climate zones, performing best in areas with reliable moisture and good drainage.
| City | Climate Suitability |
|---|---|
| Whangārei | Ideal |
| Auckland | Ideal |
| Hamilton | Ideal |
| Tauranga | Ideal |
| Rotorua | Ideal |
| Gisborne | Ideal |
| New Plymouth | Ideal |
| Napier | Ideal |
| Whanganui | Ideal |
| Palmerston North | Ideal |
| Wellington | Ideal |
| Nelson | Ideal |
| Christchurch | Ideal |
| Dunedin | Ideal |
| Invercargill | Ideal |
Buchanan's Sedge adapts to various soil conditions:
Adaptable to various light conditions:
Moderate to high water needs:
Buchanan's Sedge requires minimal maintenance:
The natural clumping habit and year-round color make this sedge best suited to minimal intervention maintenance.
The best time to plant Buchanan's Sedge is during spring or autumn when soil temperatures are moderate and rainfall is typically more reliable.
Choose a site with:
Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a strong root system. Once established, this hardy sedge requires minimal care.
Growing Buchanan's Sedge from seed is straightforward:
Division is the most common and reliable propagation method:
This is one of the most readily available native sedges in New Zealand nurseries, with several cultivars including 'Red Rooster' offering enhanced color.
Buchanan's Sedge (Carex buchananii) represents both New Zealand's botanical heritage and the legacy of early scientific exploration:
Today, Buchanan's Sedge serves as both a beautiful garden plant and a living connection to New Zealand's botanical exploration history, demonstrating how native plants can successfully transition from wild habitats to cultivated landscapes.
Provide appropriate growing conditions with consistent moisture and good drainage. Most problems can be avoided by meeting the plant's basic cultural requirements.
Use Buchanan's Sedge as a "living sculpture" in your garden - its copper-bronze color creates stunning contrasts with green foliage plants and looks particularly striking against dark backgrounds or pale stone. Plant in groups of odd numbers (3, 5, 7) for maximum impact, and consider placing where morning or evening light can backlight the foliage for a golden glow effect. The dried seed heads make excellent additions to winter flower arrangements, extending the plant's usefulness beyond the garden.
Combine complementary sedges to build durable, low‑care plantings in sun with sharp drainage. Contrasting foliage forms create depth and movement.
Learn more about native grasses and sedges in Grasses & Flaxes.
Carex buchananii (copper sedge) forms upright to arching tussocks of fine, copper‑bronze foliage, often with distinctive curled leaf tips. Slender, dark inflorescences rise above the tuft in summer. Colour intensifies with strong light and cool nights.
Native on free‑draining river flats, sand country, and open slopes in New Zealand, favouring mineral soils with good aeration and periodic summer dryness once established.
Tussock habit intercepts wind and traps organic matter, improving topsoil over time. Wind‑pollinated flowers and wind/overland flow dispersal enable gradual spread in suitable habitats.
Provides persistent structure and low wildlife cover in dryland assemblages, complementing shrubs and low flaxes. Useful in green infrastructure where low inputs are required.
Space 50–60 cm apart for swathes. Water to establish, then only during extended dry periods. Apply a light spring feed if needed. Gravel mulch assists drainage and presentation.
Comb out dead foliage in late winter; avoid hard cutting to the base. Divide congested clumps in early spring. Maintain good drainage to prevent crown rot.
Superb foil for grey Olearia, dark Phormium, and green Coprosma. Use in rhythmic drifts for movement and seasonal copper tones.
Common in cultivation; not regarded as threatened. For ecological work, prefer local eco‑sourced plants and control weeds during establishment.
Sedges (Carex) have long supported Māori weaving and indicated wetland health. While C. buchananii is chiefly ornamental, its drought tolerance and low maintenance make it valuable in modern coastal and dryland designs.
Mixed sedge plantings provide habitat for invertebrates and help stabilise sandy or gravelly soils in exposed sites.
