Carex comans Bronze Form

Carex Comans 'Bronze Form' is a New Zealand Sedge prized for its bronze-coloured foliage with metallic reflections. This grass forms a dense, fountain-shaped tuft composed of numerous long and slender flexible leaves, in which the wind and light play. Its vegetation takes on beautiful shades of orange in autumn and persists throughout winter. Perfect in a contemporary setting, and in a naturalistic-style bed. Its sculptural aspect also adds character to a patio or balcony.

Carex comans is a grass native to New Zealand, particularly the Stewart Islands. It grows in clear understories and forest edges, in well-drained soils, from coastal areas to subalpine meadows. Like all carex, it belongs to the Cyperaceae family.

As its name suggests, 'Bronze Form' stands out from the typical species with its foliage colour, as well as its broader and more flexible habit. The leaves are very fine, linear, strongly arched, and curled at their tips. They form a fountain-like shape measuring 40cm (16in) in height and 45 to 50cm (18 to 20in) in diameter. In spring, their colour is a light brown in the centre, becoming more silvery at the tips. In summer, the overall colour is a lovely dark bronze tone, shining with silver reflections. In autumn, the vegetation takes on orange to brown hues. The flowers appear in June and July and are a reddish-brown colour, but they have no significant ornamental value. Similar to Carex buchananii, Carex comans is easier to cultivate in well-drained clay soil. It thrives when planted in full sun or partial shade, in ordinary, moist soil. It tolerates summer drought quite well.

Plant Carex comans 'Bronze Form' along a pathway, in a raised bed, in a rockery, or on top of a wall, allowing its foliage to cascade naturally. For example, pair it with the grey or blue-grey foliage of Stachys byzantina 'Big Ears' or silvery santolina. The acid green flowers of euphorbias (Euphorbia myrsinites), the small purple pompoms of ornamental garlic, and the mauve aster 'Silberblaukissen' will enhance the brilliance of its warm-coloured foliage. Resourceful gardeners can use this plant to create unique decorations, such as placing several pots of Carex comans at different levels on a wooden structure. At the base of this structure, plant some annuals like marigolds, red salvias, purple morning glories, and blue lobelia.