Cyperus alternifoliusUmbrella Sedge

Cyperus alternifolius is the Umbrella Sedge, a Madagascan marginal that carries a whorl of narrow bracts at the top of each slender stem like the ribs of an opened umbrella. It grows equally well in saturated soil and in standing water to about 150 millimetres.

It is used at pond and water feature margins, in bioswales and constructed wetlands, and in containers where a fine vertical is wanted above the waterline.

Specifications

• Height1 to 1.5 metres
• Width0.6 to 1 metre
• Native toMadagascar; naturalised widely across the tropics
• FoliageSlender green stems topped by a whorl of narrow leaf-like bracts; evergreen
• Growth rateFast

Conditions

• SoilPrefers permanently moist heavy soils and grows in standing water to 150 millimetres
• LightFull sun to partial shade
• WaterHigh; will not tolerate drying out
• ClimateThrives in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions

Additional Features

• FormUpright clumping stems with umbrella-like bract heads
• UsesIdeal for pond and water feature margins, bioswales, constructed wetlands, containers and interior planting
• SpacingPlant 0.5 to 0.8 metres apart for a continuous marginal band
• Low MaintenanceCut old stems at the base; lift and divide when the clump congests
• Pest ResistanceGenerally pest-free where water is available
• VersatilityGrows in saturated ground, shallow water or a sealed container equally well
• Erosion ControlFibrous roots bind soft wet margins against wash

The Umbrella Sedge is the standard fine vertical for a water edge, and it establishes faster than almost anything else on the marginal list.