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Products > Carex testacea   Carex testacea - Orange Sedge     [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Grass-like Family: Cyperaceae (Sedges) Origin: New Zealand (Australasia) Evergreen: Yes Flower Color: NA Bloomtime: Not Significant Height: 1-2 feet Width: 1-2 feet Exposure: Full Sun Deer Tolerant: Yes Irrigation (H2O Info): High Water Needs Winter Hardiness: <15° F Carex testacea (Orange Sedge) - A clumping fine-textured evergreen sedge growing 18 to 24 inches tall or slightly more when well irrigated with leaves that arch outward up to 2 feet. Brown flower spikes in summer are not showy, and often recommended to be trimmed, but some should be left to allow this short lived plant to reseed. Its unusual orange color, most vivid during winter months, looks best when grown in full sun and in moist well-draining soils - if planted in shade plants will remain mostly green. Hardy to below 0° F and useful in gardens in USDA Hardiness Zone: 6 - 10. A nice plant where its weeping quality will be shown, spilling over walls or rocks, or in a large container and great for contrasting with rocks and paving. Allow seedlings to come up to perpetuate the planting and use a hard rake to remove old dried leaves. It is noted as resistant to predation by rabbits and deer. This plant is common to both North and South Island of New Zealand where it grows in grasslands, forests and out on dunes. The name for the genus is a Latin word describing the sedges and the specific epithet is from the Latin word 'testaceous' means "made of brick or tiles" or "brick colored". It is also known as Speckled Sedge. We have grown this interesting and attractive plant since 1989.  The information on this page is based on research conducted about this plant in the San Marcos Growers library, from online sources, and from observations made of the crops growing in our nursery, plants in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens where we may have observed it. We also have incorporated comments received from others and welcome getting feedback from those who may have additional information, particularly if this information includes cultural information that would aid others in growing Carex testacea.     [MORE INFO]