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| Category: Grass-like |
| Family: Cyperaceae (Sedges) |
| Origin: Africa, North (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Green |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Height: 12-16 feet |
| Width: 4-5 feet |
| Exposure: Cool Sun/Light Shade |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): High Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Cyperus papyrus (Papyrus) - A stout tall clump forming aquatic plant that grows 10 to 15 feet tall with its leafless green stems (culms) topped with showy umbrella-like structures composed of up to 50 to 100 graceful, arching and drooping hair-like rays and small greenish-brown flowers in summer. The plant spreads slowly outwards on thick, woody rhizomes, which like the culm bases are covered with brown triangular shaped scales (technically reduced leaves). This plant is a vigorous grower in or out of water but is generally shorter when soil not moist. Plant it up to 12 inches deep in water or in rich moist soil and protect from wind. It is hardy to about 20-25 degrees F. This plant is native to the Mediterranean basin and further south into much of Africa where it inhabits swamps, shallow lakes and stream banks. It also occurs on the island on Sicily and in Palestine but is nearly absent in Nile River marshes where it flourished in ancient times. In this region it was renowned for its use as the material to make into paper, parts were eaten, and the buoyant stems made into boats. Other common names include Paper Reed, Indian matting Plant and Nile Grass. As an ornamental plant, it is the tallest and most striking of the Cyperus. We have grown this plant at San Marcos Growers since 1983 and also grow a smaller form of the species which we call Cyperus papyrus Dwarf form.
This information about Cyperus papyrus 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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