Yellow Nutsedge

(Cyperus esculentus)

Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)

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Estimated Native Range
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Summary

Cyperus esculentus, commonly known as Yellow Nutsedge or Tiger Nut, is a perennial plant of the sedge family, native to warm temperate to subtropical regions including Southern Europe, Africa, and West and South Asia. It thrives in wetlands, seasonally flooded areas, and cultivated fields, where it can become a problematic weed. This sedge typically grows to 90 cm (3 ft) tall, with solitary stems emerging from a tuber. The plant is characterized by its grass-like appearance, with linear leaves and umbrella-like clusters of small, inconspicuous flowers that are wind-pollinated. The tubers, which are the edible part of the plant, are valued for their sweet, nutty flavor and are harvested for consumption.

Yellow Nutsedge is cultivated for its tubers, known as earth almonds or tiger nuts, which are used in various culinary applications, including the production of horchata de chufa, a sweet, milky beverage. The plant’s ability to reproduce through seeds, creeping rhizomes, and tubers allows it to adapt to soil disturbances. In cultivation, it prefers full sun to part shade and can tolerate a range of soil moisture conditions, from dry to wet. It is often planted in ridged fields to facilitate irrigation and requires consistent watering until harvest. While it can be a beneficial crop, Yellow Nutsedge is also known for its invasiveness, particularly in agricultural settings where it can outcompete crops. It is considered invasive in some regions, including parts of the United States, and care should be taken to manage its spread.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Grass
  • Height: 0.5-2 feet
  • Width: 0.2-0.5 feet
  • Growth Rate: Rapid
  • Flower Color: N/A
  • Flowering Season: Summer
  • Leaf Retention: Evergreen

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: Medium
  • Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Rabbit Resistant, Water Garden

Natural Habitat

Warm temperate to subtropical regions including wetlands, seasonally flooded areas, and cultivated fields

Other Names

Common Names: Chufa , Tiger Nut , Earth Almond , Atadwe , Edible Cyperus , Erdmandel , Knolcyperus , Jordmandel

Scientific Names: Cyperus esculentus , Cyperus gracilis , Cyperus esculentus var. macrostachyus , Cyperus esculentus var. leptostachyus , Cyperus esculentus var. esculentus , Cyperus aureus , Cyperus esculentus subsp. esculentus , Cyperus callistus , Cyperus phymatodes , Cyperus tenorei

GBIF Accepted Name: Cyperus esculentus L.