How to Grow and Care for Nutgrasses

Umbrella Sedge (Cyperus alternifolius) is a perennial houseplant that grows best in full sun, bright indoor light, or light shade. Umbrella Sedge is named for its leaves that resemble the spokes of an umbrella growing atop a long upright stalk. It is an ideal pond or aquatic plant because it grows well in water.

Papyrus sedge (Cyperus papyrus) is an aquatic flowering plant that’s originally from Africa. It was used by the ancient Egyptians to make papyrus, one of the earliest kinds of paper. For thousands of years, people have tied the stems together to build boats. Nowadays, it’s often used ornamentally. It’s close to extinction in the Nile Delta region—one of the places it calls home.

Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) is a perennial plant that is found throughout much of the eastern hemisphere, where it is often cultivated for its edible tubers. The tubers, commonly called “tiger nuts,” can be crushed in water and then strained to create a milky beverage called “horchata.”

Tall flatsedge (Cyperus eragrostis) is a flowering species of sedge found along the California coast, in the eastern United States, in Jamaica, and South America. Tall flatsedge can be a problematic weed in an agricultural context, it can infest rice fields and decrease yields.

Strawcolored flatsedge (Cyperus strigosus) is a sedge plant native to the United States, Canada, and Cuba. It grows in the wild in wet areas like roadsides and fields. Strawcolored flatsedge grows in clusters and is considered a weed in some regions.