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Cyperus alternifolius
In Singapore: Umbrella Sedge, Umbrella Plant (Grown in Singapore)
Umbrella sedge (Cyperus alternifolius) is a grass-like sedge with whorls of leaves on tall stems, widely grown as a pond, bog and houseplant. It thrives in constant moisture and can even grow with its roots standing in shallow water.
Cyperus alternifolius, the umbrella papyrus, umbrella sedge or umbrella palm, is a grass-like plant in the large genus Cyperus of the sedge family Cyperaceae. The plant is native to West Africa, Madagascar and the Arabian Peninsula, but widely distributed throughout the world. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. The subspecies Cyperus alternifolius ssp. flabelliformis is also known as Cyperus involucratus Rottb..
Cyperus alternifolius is frequently cultivated as an ornamental plant worldwide. It is planted in gardens in the ground, pots, in ponds, and as a houseplant. It is not hardy, and requires protection when temperatures fall below 5 °C (41 °F) (USDA Zones: 9a–11b). It is propagated by dividing the roots or cutting off a top and placing it upside down in a glass of water. It requires copious moisture and can grow in a few inches of water. The cultivar Cyperus alternifolius 'Variegatus' is grown for its variegated foliage and smaller size.
Tapertip flatsedge · Jointed flatsedge · Slender flatsedge · Mullumbimby Couch · Cyperus bulbosus · Variable flatsedge · Piedmont flatsedge · Globe flatsedge · Tall flatsedge · Yellow nutsedge · Haspan flatsedge · Smooth flatsedge
[Contains information from Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Heritage Trees from data.gov.sg (National Parks Board), made available under the terms of the Singapore Open Data Licence version 1.0]
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Cyperus alternifolius by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
