About
From summer to autumn the stems are topped with small spikelets of tiny brown flowers. A densely tufted perennial sedge to 90cm tall. Numerous dark green stems each bear a terminal whorl of leaf-like bracts to 15cm long; these arch and fan out somewhat like umbrella spokes.
About the genus
Cyperus can be annuals or evergreen, rhizomatous perennials, with linear, grass-like leaves and terminal clusters of small greenish flower-spikes with spreading leaf-like bracts beneath
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeLoam
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisturePoorly-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH3
Plant details
Plant typeGrass Like
HabitClump forming, Columnar upright
FoliageSemi evergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesPatio and container plants, Houseplants
Native toAfrica & Arabian Penin.
Care notes
CultivationGrow in a pot of peat-free, loam-based compost either outdoors or in bright filtered light. Stand the container in shallow tray of water to ensure ample moisture at all times. Apply a balanced liquid feed monthly during the growing season
PruningTrim off dead or dying stems
PropagationPropagate by division or by inverting a cut stem in water; plantlets will develop from the crown of the submerged stem
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free