Yellow Nutsedge
Cyperus esculentus · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass-like weed
Grass Family
Cyperaceae (Sedges)
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass (Technically a sedge)
Variety / Cultivar
Not applicable (Wild species)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4 through 11; dies back to ground in winter, re-emerging from tubers in late spring/early summer
About This Grass
A light green, fast-growing sedge that typically grows taller than surrounding lawn grasses. It has a distinctive triangular stem (sedges have edges) and a shiny appearance.
Blade Characteristics
Long, narrow blades with a prominent mid-vein; V-shaped cross-section; waxy, shiny yellow-green color; pointed tips; basal leaves arranged in groups of three
Root System
Fibrous roots with extensive rhizomes and small terminal tubers (nutlets) that store energy and survive dormant in soil for years
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia; adapted to wet, disturbed soils globally
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous with underground tubers (nutlets), forming dense clumps and spreading rapidly via underground chains
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; prefers moist to poorly drained soils but is highly drought tolerant once established due to tubers
Mowing & Maintenance
Grows faster than turf; mowing does not control it and can stimulate tuber production; requires specific sedge-targeted herbicides (Sedgehammer, etc.)
Special Characteristics
Extremely difficult to eradicate; pulling by hand often leaves tubers behind which then sprout into multiple new plants; highly salt and heat tolerant
Ecological Information
Invasive in garden and turf settings; provides food for waterfowl (tubers) but is considered a noxious weed in agricultural landscapes