Carex Testacea Ornamental Grass

Carex Testacea (Prairie Fire) is an outstanding specimen plant which is ideal for adding different colors and textures to the garden A very attractive and low growing ornamental grass, the attractive green bronze, fine leaved foliage erupts into colour like burning embers, quickly becoming established in borders or containers. In late summer, panicles of rosy flowers appear just above the foliage.

Carex testacea ornamental grass is extremely versatile with regard to soil types, tolerating some dryness and adapting to quite boggy situations. It is disease and pest resistant and being evergreen it is very low-maintenance. To get the best color from this ornamental grass, plant in full to partial sun.

Carex testacea Prairie Fire is outstanding when planted with silver foliage plants, brightly colored flowers or variegated grasses. They are excellent used to give colour, texture and movement in the perennial garden, for show-stopping block planting, or even as a feature plant in a container.

Sowing indoors: start ornamental grass seeds in late Winter to early Spring. Sow on to the surface of a free-draining, moist seed-sowing compost and cover with 1/4" of vermiculite. Do not exclude light as this helps germination. Keep at around 60 - 68°F. Germination should take place in approximately 2 weeks. Maintain a temperature of 60°F until the seedlings are established. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, take a small clump of seedlings and put them all in a 1 quart pot of gritty compost. They will form a bushy plant and be ready to go into the garden in summer. Grow in sun and in well drained soil.

Direct sowing outdoors: Ensure all ground is weed free and well prepared before sowing. Sow when frost season is completely over and night time temperatures are staying in the 40's or warmer. Sow the seed 1/4 - 1/2" deep in rows 25 - 35" apart with a distance of 4 - 12" between the plants. Try to keep seed moist as much as possible. The rate and speed of germination will depend on the soil temperature and weather conditions and could be from 7 to 21 days.

Type: Perennial
Mature Height: 10 - 12 inches
Soil Type: Widely adaptable
Mature Spread: 12 - 14 inches
Flower Color: Rosy
Mature Form: Clumps - upright
Foliage Color: Bronze green
Growth Rate: Moderate
Sun Exposure: Partial sun to full sun
Moisture Requirements: Average
Zones: 5 - 10
Notes: 200 Seeds will produce 10 to 20 plants.

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