Possibly Carex flagellifera

@carol23_gw Is there a miniature version of Carex flagellifera?

Ah, Carex flagellifera is an annual. I need a self-renewing plant.

It's perennial. Needs a milder climate, like yours. Who said it was annual?

@Jay 6a Chicago This product page on Proven Winners classifies it as "Annual":

https://www.provenwinners.com/plants/carex/graceful-grasses-toffee-twist-toffee-twist-sedge-carex-flagellifera

The text is poorly written but says:

"Once the grass turns brown it can either be removed immediately or removed in the spring. It should not be expected to live through the winter and begin growing again in the spring."

Reading that more carefully now, what they are saying is that it becomes an annual when your Winters get below 5F. So it is probably perennial above 5F, and they never say it clearly.

All Carex are perennial. Carex flagellifera is said to be short lived, but still perennial. Proven winners probably calls it annual so people will buy more plants.

Don't believe everything plant vendors tell you. I also can't post photos today. Carex testacea and Carex buchananii are a similar bronze color, and they smaller than Carex flagellifera.

@gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) was right. It is Carex testacea.

C. testacea is never really bronze. It is a dark olive green color during the growing season and only takes on the orange hues it is named for with shorter days and colder weather. IME, all the NZ carex grow to about the same size - 12-24" - but some species tend to be more upright while others more mounding.

And Proven Winners likely calls them "annuals" because they are not overly winter hardy, preferring milder winter climates.