Yellow Nutsedge
Cyperus esculentus · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 Monocot (Sedge, not a true grass)
Grass Family
Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass (often found in lawns and ornamental beds)
Variety / Cultivar
Common wild type
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 3-11; goes dormant and turns brown after the first hard frost, reappearing in late spring from tubers.
About This Grass
An aggressive, grass-like perennial with a distinct yellowish-green color. It grows faster than turfgrasses, often standing several inches above the lawn canopy within days of mowing. It features a triangular stem and a waxy appearance.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are V-sharped in cross-section, with a distinct mid-rib; width is medium (3-8mm). Tips are long and taper to a sharp point. Leaves have a high-shine, waxy cuticle. Triangular stem (sedge) is a key identifier.
Root System
Extensive fibrous roots with underground rhizomes ending in hard, starchy tubers (nutlets) that can remain dormant in soil for years; establishment is extremely fast in wet soils.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to North America, Europe, and much of the Northern Hemisphere; well-adapted to worldwide temperate and tropical regions
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous and Tuberous; spreads via underground rhizomes that produce small, nut-like tubers (nutlets)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun to Partial Shade; prefers wet to poorly drained soils but is highly drought-tolerant once tubers are established; thrives in high-moisture environments.
Mowing & Maintenance
Grows faster than turf at 2-5 inches; mowing often fails to control it as it can survive low heights. Chemical control with sedge-specific herbicides (halosulfuron or sulfentrazone) is typically required.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional ability to crowd out turf; difficult to pull by hand because 'nutlets' break off and sprout new plants; highly resistant to most standard broadleaf or grass herbicides.
Ecological Information
Native status; tubers provide food for waterfowl and wildlife; generally considered a noxious weed in agricultural and manicured landscape ecosystems due to its invasive nature.