Yellow Nutsedge Cyperus esculentus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sy-PEER-us es-kew-LEN-tus
- Description
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Yellow Nutsedge, is a perennial, glossy green, grass-like native weed or sedge that spreads predominantly by rhizomes and tubers, although viable seed can be produced. Plants die back to the ground in fall, with new shoots emerging in spring from underground tubers. This species, as well as other sedges, grows best in wet sites, prefers warm weather and full sun conditions, but will grow in a diversity of sites and environments.
Like its Eurasian cousin, Purple Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus), Yellow Nutsedge is destructive to crops in sunny, open fields and moist, disturbed soil, robbing fellow plants of nutrients with long, invasive roots called rhizomes. If you pull it up, you can see the nut-shaped edible (esculentus) nodules that store the nutrients. Unfortunately, once pulled up, the nutsedge may leave broken roots to form more numerous roots in its place. It is best to remove young plants and leave exposed roots in the sun to dry out. Only certain preemergence herbicides control yellow nutsedge. Note that Purple Nutsedge responds differently to herbicides than Yellow Nutsedge. Listed in the USDA Plants database as a noxious weed in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington, this species is not a recommended plant for most gardens.
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No known pests or diseases.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cyperus
- Species:
- esculentus L.
- Family:
- Cyperaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used homeopathically; almond-flavored tubers used for a drink.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern United States, tropical to subtropical regions
- Distribution:
- Throughout United States, except Wyoming and Montana.
- Wildlife Value:
- Larval host for Dun Skipper.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Difficult to remove due to long, rhizomous roots.
- Edibility:
- Tubers can be eaten raw, cooked or dried and ground into a powder and used in confectionery. A nut-like flavor but rather chewy and with a tough skin. A beverage is made by mixing the ground tubers with water, cinnamon, sugar, vanilla and ice. An edible oil is obtained from the tuber that compares favourably with olive oil. The roasted tubers are a coffee substitute.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 2 in. - 0 ft. 5 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Erect
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Thorns
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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 Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Tiny, single seeded, smooth, oblong shaped.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Spikelets occur at the ends of the solitary stems in a cluster where the flower stalks arise from a common point (umbel-like). Individual spikelets are reddish-purple to reddish-brown in color. The size and shape of the umbel is rather variable and can be several inches across. Each umbel has 1-3 sessile spikes and 6-10 non-sessile spikes on straight branches of varying length. At the base of each umbel or compound umbel of spikelets, there are several leafy bracts of varying length; the largest bract is usually longer than the inflorescence. Each floral spike is about 2-3" long, consisting of 4 ranks of spikelets along its central stalk (or rachis). The central stalk is flattened and narrowly winged. The spikelets are perpendicular to this stalk and about ½–¾" long. The spikelets are yellow to golden brown, narrowly linear, and flattened in shape; they consist of 10-30 florets and their scales. Each floret has a white tripartite style and yellowish brown anthers; the tips of the styles are curly.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are light green, smooth, glossy, long, v-shaped and narrow. Three leaves extend broad at the base tapering to a point. The leaves tend to congregate toward the base of the plant. The leaf blades are up to 1½ feet long and 1/3 of an inch across spreading outward from the stem. There is a conspicuous channel along the central vein of each leaf blade, especially the larger ones. The leaf sheaths are whitish green, closed, and hairless; sometimes they become pale red toward the base of the plant.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Smooth/Hairless
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Cluster of terminal buds
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Lenticels:
- Not Conspicuous
- Pith (Split Longitudinally):
- Spongy
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Erect, triangular stem branching into three stems of yellow, antenna-like seedpods. Stems rise from tuber or basal bulb with overapping, brown scales on rhizomes.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Poor Soil
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
