Green Kyllinga (or Shortleaf Spikesedge)
Kyllinga brevifolia · Warm-season Perennial (C4 Photosynthetic Pathway)
Grass Family
Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass (technically a sedge, commonly found in lawns and sports turf)
Variety / Cultivar
Common Wild Type (often considered a weed in turfgrass)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-11; lacks cold tolerance and goes dormant (brown) during winter months in cooler transition zones.
About This Grass
A low-growing, mat-forming perennial sedge that mimics grass. It has bright lime-green foliage and produces distinctive small, globular, greenish-white flower heads atop triangular stems. It reaches 2-6 inches in height and survives regular mowing.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium (approx. 1-3mm wide), smooth, and glossy. Leaves are arranged in three ranks (3-ranked) which is typical of sedges. They are flat, lack auricles, and have a very short membranous ligule.
Root System
Shallow but extensive fibrous root system supported by creeping rhizomes. It forms a dense sod that is difficult to pull up. Low thatch but high density allows it to outcompete desirable turf grasses.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Tropical and subtropical regions worldwide; naturalized throughout the Southern United States and California.
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous and stoloniferous; spreads rapidly via slender, reddish-scale-covered underground rhizomes to form dense mats.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; thrives in wet, poorly drained soils. High water needs; it is often an indicator of overwatering or drainage issues.
Mowing & Maintenance
Highly tolerant of low mowing (can survive heights below 0.5 inches). Maintenance typically focuses on eradication via herbicides (Sedgehammer, Celero) and improving soil drainage rather than cultivation.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic tolerance; salt tolerant; highly invasive in wet turf; resistant to many standard broadleaf herbicides; distinguishable from Purple Nutsedge by its globular seed head and lower growth habit.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized; provides minimal wildlife value; excellent at soil stabilization in boggy areas but considered a high-impact weed in managed landscapes and agricultural fields.