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New Zealand Hair-Sedge
Carex comans
Easy · Beginner friendlyAbout New Zealand Hair-Sedge
New Zealand Hair Sedge is a low-growing evergreen sedge reaching 12-18 inches tall, forming graceful weeping tufts of incredibly fine bronze, copper, or olive-green hair-like foliage. The bronze-leaved 'Frosted Curls' and copper 'Bronze Form' selections are widely grown in American gardens for their unique color and fountain-like form. Tolerant of poor soils, drought, and partial shade.
- Drought-tolerant
- Evergreen
- Container-friendly
How to care for New Zealand Hair-Sedge
Watering
- Springevery 10 days
- Summerevery 14 days
- Fallevery 14 days
- Winterevery 30 days
Soil · Well-draining
- Top dressingPine bark mulch10%
- Main mixPotting soil + perlite 2:170%
- DrainageLECA / gravel20%
Never skip the drainage layer — standing water is the top cause of root rot.
FERTILIZER
- Springevery 60 days
At a Glance
- NativeAustralasia
- Height1–1.5 ft (0.3–0.5 m)
- Spread1–2 ft (0.3–0.6 m)
- Flower colorWhite, Cream
- Foliage colorBronze, Silver
- SoilMoisture-retentive, Loamy, Well-drained
- LocationsYard · Balcony
Bloom time
BLOOM CYCLE
Peak bloom
Jun–Aug
Inconspicuous brown spikelets in summer
Toxicity
Humans Safe · Pets Safe
None reported
Safe
EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.
EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.
NOTE Listed as non-toxic for humans; avoid eating ornamental plants unless confirmed edible.
Safe
EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.
EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.
NOTE Listed as non-toxic for dogs; avoid eating ornamental plants unless confirmed edible.
Safe
EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.
EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.
NOTE Listed as non-toxic for cats; avoid eating ornamental plants unless confirmed edible.
Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.
DISTRIBUTION
- Native
- Introduced
- Australasia
History
Carex comans, commonly called New Zealand hair sedge, is a tufted evergreen sedge in the family Cyperaceae endemic to New Zealand, growing in open tussock grasslands, forest margins, and gravelly riverbeds of both North and South Islands. Swedish botanist Sven Berggren formally described the species in 1880. The epithet comans means hairy or tufted, referring to the extraordinarily fine thread-like leaves.
Plants form cascading 30-45 cm mounds of very fine, slender, hair-like leaves in distinctive olive-brown, bronze, chocolate, or silvery-green colors rather than the typical sedge green—a natural foliage coloration unusual in the plant kingdom. The unusual brown and bronze leaf coloration arises from wild populations and allowed breeders to select cultivars including silvery 'Frosted Curls' (Blue Mountain Nursery, New Zealand), 'Amazon Mist' (a pale bronze form), 'Bronco' (deep bronze), and 'Bronze Form'.
The species has become enormously popular in mixed containers and Mediterranean-climate gardens since the 1990s for its refined soft texture and unusual colors. Introduced to American horticulture in the late 20th century, it became a staple of California and Pacific Northwest container plantings for its unique copper and bronze coloration—rare among ornamental grasses.
Symbolism & meaning
What It Symbolizes
New Zealand Hair-Sedge wears grace as a weeping fountain of fine, hair-thin blades. Its Uniqueness lies in color — bronze, copper, and tawny shades rare among grasses, as if the plant were quietly rusting in the breeze. Each clump is movement made visible, tossed by the smallest wind into something between water and metal.
- Grace — weeping fountain of fine foliage
- Uniqueness — rare bronze and copper grass colors
Where the Name Comes From
The name New Zealand Hair-Sedge describes its sedge-like clumps. 'Comans' from Latin meaning hairy or with long hair, for the fine threadlike foliage.
Uses & Fun Facts
- Bronze hair-like foliage forms weeping mounds in borders
- Sweeps gracefully through gravel and modern plantings
- Cascades attractively over pot edges year-round
Related plants
More Carex plants
Tufted-SedgeCarex elata
Gray's SedgeCarex grayi
Morrow's SedgeCarex morrowii
Evergold SedgeCarex oshimensis
Plants with similar care
Chinese AbeliaAbelia chinensis
Fragrant AbeliaAbelia mosanensis
Large-Flowered AbeliaAbelia uniflora
Glossy AbeliaAbelia x grandiflora
Frequently asked questions
How often should I water New Zealand Hair-Sedge?
In summer, water about every 14 days; in winter, about every 30 days. Adjust for heat, pot size and drainage.
How much light does New Zealand Hair-Sedge need?
Full sun: 6+ hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.
Is New Zealand Hair-Sedge toxic to cats or dogs?
Pets Safe (Dogs Safe · Cats Safe) Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.
Is New Zealand Hair-Sedge easy to grow?
Yes — it is considered an easy, beginner-friendly plant.
When does New Zealand Hair-Sedge bloom?
It typically blooms Jun–Aug in the Northern Hemisphere.
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