Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Cyperus alternifolius

Umbrella Sedge

Family CyperaceaeGenus Cyperus

Umbrella-like whorls of narrow leaves topped with brown flower clusters, on tall green stems
The whole plantTauʻolungaCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges, Perennial, Water PlantExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennial or rhizomatous geophytePlants of the World Online
Height
1.5-4 ft0.5-1.2 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
2-3 ft60-90 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Green, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Fall, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Provinces and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
8-11Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Frequent Standing WaterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Umbrella papyrus comes from West Africa, Madagascar and the Arabian Peninsula but is now grown as an ornamental around the world. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Wikipedia: Cyperus alternifolius

Protocol

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 2190 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 6 years from start to sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.

100% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Cyperus p. 28Public domain
Show the original text
Cyperus (Cyperaceae). C. alternifolium DS 6 y germ. 70L(100% in 2nd w) and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Cyperus p. 28. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

Add to My Garden

View species page