Carex flagellifera aka Glen Murray Tussock

Carex flagellifera is a sedge from New Zealand and Tasmania. It belongs to the sedge family, Cyperaceae. Common names include weeping brown sedge and Glen Murray tussock sedge. This perennial forms dense tufts of fine, arching leaves. Its foliage stays evergreen, though it may become semi-evergreen in some conditions. The name flagellifera refers to its slender, whip-like leaves.

Garden plants reach about 1.5–3.3 feet [0.45–1 metre] tall and wide. NC State gives the smaller range, while RHS lists larger plants. Plants take two to five years to reach full size. Narrow, reddish-brown leaves give the clump a fountain shape. Each leaf may reach 2 feet [0.6 metres] long. The leaves feel papery and have smooth edges without hairs. Their fine texture gives the plant much of its garden value.

Light brown flower spikes appear in late summer. Their stems can reach 3.3 feet [1 metre] tall. The flowers draw less attention than the leaves. The fruit is an achene, a small, dry fruit. Both its length and width fall below 0.08 feet [0.025 metres]. The sources give no evidence of edible parts or food use. They also provide no species-level safety assessment for people or pets.

Grow this sedge in full sun or partial shade. It needs moist garden soil that drains well. It accepts clay, loam, sand and chalk, across acid to alkaline soils. Fertile soil suits it, but excess winter wet can cause problems. RHS rates its hardiness as H4. NC State lists USDA zones 7a–10b. Long spells below 5°F may kill the plant. These limits matter when choosing a site in colder gardens.

Use the arching clumps in borders, containers or ground-cover plantings. They also suit small groups and mass plantings. Their fine leaves add contrast beside water features and along paths. The plant fits informal, prairie-style, shade and winter gardens. It attracts small mammals and resists deer. Care needs are low, and serious problems are uncommon. Aphids may damage the stem bases, though diseases are seldom a concern. Remove dead leaves in summer to keep clumps tidy. Sow seed in cold-frame containers in spring. Divide established clumps in early summer.