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Jesse Saylor
Cyperaceae
Cyperus esculentus
Nut Sedge, Yellow Nut Sedge
Gardeners who have run across this noxious perennial or annual weed know just how obnoxious it is. Nut sedge spreads aggressively if allowed to take hold because it's tough as nails and spreads via fast-growing rhizomes (underground roots and stems). To make matters worse, it also produces tuberous nutlets that remain behind when the weed is pulled and grow into whole new plants. This pervasive weed can be found in North Temperate and subtropical regions across the globe, so most will meet up with it eventually.
The grassy foliage of nut sedge is bright green and its blades have a distinct triangular formation at the base, a foliar characteristic common of sedges. In summer, it produces stalks topped with whorls of bracts. These become subtended by bottle brushes of golden orange flowers that produce lots of flat, oval seeds, which germinate readily after falling to the ground. The slender white rhizomes of this plant form vast underground networks. Brown, tuberous nutlets form near the base of the plants throughout summer. One odd fact is that these nutlets are edible and consumed in some parts of the world. They are reported to have a sweet, nutty taste.
Nut Sedge eradication is generally a multi-step process. Begin by digging out the plants, being careful to remove all their rhizomes and tubers. Repeat this process when all missed pieces begin to produce new grassy foliage. Another option is to smother colonies with black mulch cloth for a couple of months in summer. The lack of light and heat will usually kill them completely. Gardeners that choose to kill weeds with glyphosate will need to apply multiple applications over a period of two months or so to kill a colony.
12 - 1
5 - 12
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Sedge or Rush
Full Sun, Partial Sun
1'-2' / 0.3m - 0.6m
Summer
World/Pandemic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Average
Clay, Loam, Sand
Wet Site, Pollution, Drought, Soil Compaction
Very Fast
Drought Tolerant, Average Water, Ample Water
Mat-forming
Insignificant
Orange, Gold, Bronze, Tan
Tan, Sandy Brown
Green, Yellow Green
No
Yes
Fine
Semi-Evergreen
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