Yellow Nutsedge
Cyperus esculentus · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 sedge
Grass Family
Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass (Lawns and Agriculture)
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type (No specific landscape cultivar)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-10; dies back to tubers after the first frost, entering winter dormancy.
About This Grass
An aggressive, grass-like sedge known for its yellowish-green color and rapid vertical growth. It frequently grows twice as fast as surrounding turfgrass, creating an uneven lawn surface. It produces a triangular stem and remains lime-green throughout the summer.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium-to-coarse (4-8mm), V-shaped in cross-section, with a very prominent midrib. They have long, tapered, needle-like tips. The color is bright lime-green or yellowish-green with a waxy, glossy texture. Stems are distinctly triangular in cross-section (Sedges have edges).
Root System
Extensive fibrous roots with slender rhizomes ending in small, hard, starchy tubers (nutlets) that can remain dormant in soil for years. Fast establishment; low thatch but high underground biomass.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to North America, Eurasia, and Africa; adapted globally in temperate to tropical climates
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous with underground tubers (nutlets), forming upright clumps that spread aggressively
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade. Thrives in wet, poorly drained soils and low-lying areas, though it is highly drought tolerant once established due to its tubers.
Mowing & Maintenance
Requires frequent mowing due to rapid growth (often outgrowing turf in 2 days); height varies 0.5 to 8 inches. Chemical control is usually required as hand-pulling often leaves tubers behind to regrow. Maintenance is categorized as a high-effort weed management issue.
Special Characteristics
Highly invasive in lawns; resistant to most standard broadleaf and many grass-specific herbicides; high heat tolerance; survives mechanical pulling better than most weeds; salt tolerant.
Ecological Information
Native status is complex (global distribution); tubers are a food source for some wildlife (waterfowl, wild pigs); considered a noxious weed in many agricultural settings due to competition with crops.