Umbrella Plant Cyperus alternifolius
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Umbrella Plant:
Previously known as:
- Cyperus frondosus
- Cyperus involucratus
- Eucyperus alternifolius
- Phonetic Spelling
- sy-PEER-us al-tern-ee-FOH-lee-us
- Description
-
Sun or light shade; can be used in water gardens or as a houseplant (container on tray of water); keep moist or grow in standing water; prefers fertile soil; sun and wind can brown the bracts; plant in 2-5 gallon pot; grow with 1-6 inches of water covering the crown
Quick ID Hints:
- Grass-like leafy bracts form umbrella at top of scape
- Stem (scape) up to 3' long, green, glabrous
- 20-25 linear, leaflike bracts crowded at scape top
Rhizomatous herb to 3', multi stemmed and spreading.
Inflorescence is non-ornamental; Scapes tend to grow so long that they flop over and take root; May require support; Will grow in standing water; good in or near water element.
Prefers high light, wet soil, and medium to high relative humidity; easily propagated; pest problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Water Garden Water Wheel
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Gracilis'
- 'Nana'
- 'Variegatus'
Variegated leaves
- 'Gracilis'
- 'Gracilis', 'Nana', 'Variegatus'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Gracilis'
- 'Nana'
- 'Variegatus'
Variegated leaves
- 'Gracilis'
- 'Gracilis', 'Nana', 'Variegatus'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cyperus
- Species:
- alternifolius
- Family:
- Cyperaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Africa and the Arabian Peninsula
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Perennial
- Water Plant
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flat, leaf-like bract produced at top of stem. A compound umbel of spikelets, subtended by leafy bracts. Spikelets brown, 1/4".
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leafless stem topped with spiral of dark green leaves. Bracts 11-25, linear, leaflike, green, 1/4" wide, crowded at top of scape.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- (scapes) erect, dark green, crowded.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Water Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
