Carex testacea ‘Prairie Fire’ (New Zealand Hair Sedge)

Extraordinarily eye-catching, Carex testacea ‘Prairie Fire’ is also one of the cold-hardier New Zealand Hairy Sedges. It forms a low, cascading mound of narrow, arching, olive-green leaves tipped with bright orange highlights. Inconspicuous brown flower spikes are produced in summer, whose stems droop gracefully as they age. Evergreen, this clump-forming perennial grass retains its color year-round. It is valuable for its long-lasting appeal and is regarded as one of the most beautiful ornamental grasses for the garden, where it provides a lovely contrast with other plants, mulch, or gravel.

• Growing easily in a dense fountain-like clump about 18-24 in. tall and wide (45-60 cm), it enjoys full sun, tolerates part shade, and thrives in moist, fertile, well-drained soils. Will not tolerate excessive winter wet
• This is a graceful accent plant for beds, borders, banks and slopes, groundcover, coastal gardens, cottage gardens, and near ponds or streams where its foliage can be reflected for double the pleasure. Does well in containers, too, where it adds wonderful character and texture to your plant combinations. Effective as an edging plant or in the rock garden.
•  Deer resistant, salt and drought tolerant, it requires very little care and provides almost all year-round interest with its wonderfully warm-colored leaves.
• Generally disease-free, Hairy Sedge is sometimes attacked by aphids.
• Propagate by seed, sown in containers in a cold frame in spring or by division in early summer. In summer, cut out any dead leaves.
• Native to New Zealand