Yellow Nutsedge
Cyperus esculentus
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Aruba, Azores, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cabinda, Cameroon, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Caprivi Strip, Central African Republic, Central American Pacific Is., Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Corse, Costa Rica, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Galápagos, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Honduras, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Leeward Is., Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Madeira, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Caucasus, Pakistan, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Rwanda, Senegal, Sicilia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Transcaucasus, Trinidad-Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Uganda, Uruguay
Wilcox, Mike
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Cyperaceae
- Genus:
- Cyperus
- Species:
- Cyperus esculentus
- USDA Symbol:
- CYES
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 90 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, brown
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Bactra verutana, lesser cornstalk borer (Elasmopalpus lignosellus), Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Moths:Diploschizia impigritella
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- waterfowl, birds, small mammals
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from underground tubers after fire or mowing.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-rich soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Thrives in wetlands and riverbanks
Propagation & Germination
- Notes:
- Primarily propagates vegetatively via tubers; seed germination is inconsistent and rarely used for propagation.