Nutgrass
Cyperus rotundus
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Aldabra, Algeria, Andaman Is., Angola, Australia, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Bangladesh, Benin, Borneo, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Caprivi Strip, Caroline Is., Central African Republic, Chad, Chagos Archipelago, China, Comoros, Congo, Corse, Cyprus, Djibouti, DR Congo, East Aegean Is., Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guam, Guinea, Gulf of Guinea Is., Gulf States, Hainan, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jawa, Kazakhstan, Kazan-retto, Kenya, Kirgizstan, Korea, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Lesotho, Lesser Sunda Is., Libya, Madagascar, Madeira, Malawi, Malaya, Mali, Maluku, Marianas, Marshall Is., Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Mozambique Channel Is., Myanmar, Namibia, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, Nicobar Is., Niger, Nigeria, North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Pen., Ogasawara-shoto, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Philippines, Portugal, Réunion, Rodrigues, Romania, Rwand
Argo Navis
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Cyperaceae
- Genus:
- Cyperus
- Species:
- Cyperus rotundus
- USDA Symbol:
- CYRO
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 50 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- brown, green
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Bactra verutana, Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- waterfowl, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from underground tubers after fire or top removal.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- poor, sandy, well-drained
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Common in disturbed, nutrient-poor soils
Propagation & Germination
- Notes:
- Primarily spreads vegetatively via tubers; seed germination is minimal and rarely relied upon for propagation.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI