Yellow Nutsedge (Nutgrass)
Cyperus esculentus · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 sedge
Grass Family
Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass (technically a sedge)
Variety / Cultivar
Common wild type; Chufa (var. sativus) is a cultivated variety for tubers.
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3-11. Extremely cold hardy tubers that overwinter in frozen soil; thrives in peak summer heat.
About This Grass
A rapid-growing weed with triangular stems. It is typically a lighter, yellowish-green than surrounding turf, growing taller than standard grass in a 'spiky' clump. Seed heads are golden-yellow to brown umbels.
Blade Characteristics
Yellow-green blades, 3-10mm wide, V-shaped in cross-section with a thick midrib. Waxy texture with a sharply pointed tip. Stems are distinctly triangular in cross-section.
Root System
Fibrous roots with extensive rhizomes and small starchy tubers (nutlets) terminal on the rhizomes. High thatch-like density; very hard to eradicate once tubers form.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Cosmopolitan; native to most of the Northern Hemisphere, Southern Europe, and Africa.
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous with underground tubers (nutlets). Fast-growing, erect, and colonial.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; prefers wet or poorly drained soils but is highly drought tolerant once established.
Mowing & Maintenance
Grows faster than turf so it requires frequent mowing. Not killed by mowing; requires specific sedge-control herbicides (e.g., SedgeHammer).
Special Characteristics
Highly invasive in lawns and gardens, resistant to most common broadleaf and grass herbicides, highly distinctive triangular stem and yellow color.
Ecological Information
Native to many areas but considered an invasive weed in turf. Tubers are an important food source for waterfowl and wild turkeys; known as 'Chufa' when grown for wildlife.