Please help identify

I found this "curly" grass plant, planted it, and now it is quite large. I have no idea what it is! I love it and want to plant more. I hope that someone can tell me what it is.

This message was edited Jul 9, 2008 6:49 PM

Hi, sorry, I have no idea what this might be. I have never seen anything quite like it. It is beautiful. Good luck with your quest.

hmm, it looks similar to the papyrus plants I have... they've been 5 feet tall last summer.

I have the papyrus potted in a bucket of water, trying to revive/save them. The cats chewed them to the ground over the winter ;(.

Looks like some type of papyrus which we have growing in our pond. Did you find it in a wet or swampy area?

It's cyperus alternifolius or umbrella plant. Very healthy looking ones!

Very cool looking, I see why you want to know what it is.

If it is only a foot or so tall it may be a sedge.

You mentioned that it is quite large. If it is only 1 ft. tall there is a sedge called cyperus esculentas. Otherwise, I would say cyperus alternifolius.

I have never seen it here in zone 6 but it sure does look interesting and very pretty !

Cyperus alternifolius is a native of the swamps of Madagascar. It is a relative of papyrus of the Nile river. The plant can grow to 3-5 feet if given plenty of water.

Blooming Time: Summer The flowers are a brownish spadix produced in the center of the leaves.

Culture: Cyperus alternifolius does best in a tropical environment, but quickly adapts to the home. Give the plant lots of water. Never let this plant dry out. The wetter the roots are, the more it thrives. It is best to put the pot inside another pot with water or grow it in an aquarium. Fertilize the plant monthly during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer diluted to ½ the strength recommended on the label. A rich peaty soil is best (2 parts peat moss to 1 part loam to 1 part sand).

Propagation: Cyperus alternifolius are propagated by cuttings or division. Take cuttings from the top 4-6 inches of the plant. Place them upside down in water and when new plants emerge, repot in soil. When dividing the plant, it is best to keep the younger growth from the outside edges of the pot and discard the old growth in the center of the pot.



This message was edited Jul 13, 2008 6:23 PM