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[2nd Image]
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| Category: Grass-like |
| Family: Cyperaceae (Sedges) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Green |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Synonyms: [C. isocladus] |
| Height: 1 foot |
| Width: 1-2 feet |
| Exposure: Light Shade/Part Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): High Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Cyperus prolifer (Dwarf Papyrus) - This is one of the shortest papyrus, reaching to only 1 foot in height with greenish-brown summer flowers and short needle-thin leaf-bracts bare (leafless) that top the stems. Grow in water at a depth up to 4 inches, in moist rock gardens or in pots. Best in light shade. It is hardy to about 20-25 degrees F. This is a delicate looking evergreen species that should be used where it won't get overpowered by larger, coarser plants. The species naturally occurs along the east coast of Africa, from Kenya south through the northern areas of Eastern Cape and also on Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands. The name for the genus comes from the historical Greek name for Sweet Galingale, Cyperus longus. The specific epithet is a reference to the proliferous number of inflorescences this plant produces. This plant has long been grow as Cyperus isocladus or Cyperus prolifer var. isocladus but is now correctly known as Cyperus prolifer. While we have long thought this an attractive and unusual plant, it like so many other mesic water loving plants have gone by the wayside as we concentrate on more xerophytic summer dry growing species. We grew this plant in our nursery from 1987 until 2012.
This information about Cyperus prolifer displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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