orange karaihe
Carex testacea | orange karaihe, speckled sedge, trip me up
A graceful, sedge its fine, arching foliage shifts from olive green to glowing orange tones, especially in cooler months, offering year-round colour and interest. Forming neat, tussock-like clumps, its slender leaves move beautifully with the breeze, bringing texture and motion to planting schemes. Adaptable and low-maintenance, thriving in full sun for its best colour but tolerating partial shade. It prefers well-drained soils and, once established, is drought-tolerant. Ideal for borders, rock gardens, and waterside plantings, it grows to around 50 cm in height with a similar spread, making it a versatile and resilient choice for a wide range of garden settings.
typical habitat.
dunes
coastal forest
coastal scrub
tussock grasslands
dune forest
drainage.
moist
well drained
free draining
dry
sun.
full sun
partial shade
mature specifications.
height | 60cm
width | 60cm
pollinators calendar.
flowering | September–December
fruiting | November–May (but may be present throughout the year)
did you know?
Carex testacea is highly variable and is often regarded as a species complex. Inland forest forms tend to be more robust, with longer, darker brown spikes compared to the typically finer coastal forms.