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Yellow Nutsedge

Cyperus esculentus

—
Not native

Not native to Florida. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 82%

Height
6 inches–2 feet
Spread
2–5 inches
Light
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Somewhat dry to moist
See native alternatives

Plant this instead

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  • Cattail Sedge
    Carex typhina

    Sun: Full to part sun. Soil: Moist to wet. Flowers: Green.

    Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous

  • Fox Sedge
    Carex vulpinoidea

    Sun: Full to part sun. Soil: Moist to wet. Flowers: Green.

    Similar growth form, evergreen or deciduous, bloom season

    Different: spread

  • Bristly Sedge
    Carex comosa

    Sun: Full sun. Soil: Moist to wet. Flowers: Green.

    Similar growth form, evergreen or deciduous, light

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At a glance

Life cycle
Perennial
Leaves
Deciduous
Bloom
Mid summer
Fruiting season
Summer to fall

Recorded in 54 Florida counties.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

11CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including FL

Genus host records with ranges including FL · Cyperus

  • Argyrotaenia ivanaIvana Leafroller Moth
  • Bactra verutanaJavelin Moth
  • Diploschizia impigritellaYellow Nutsedge Moth
  • Elasmopalpus lignosellaLesser Cornstalk Borer
  • Euphyes pilatkaSawgrass Skipper, Palatka Skipper, Coastal Sedge Skipper, Keys Sawgrass Skipper[for subspecies Euphyes pilatka klotsi]
  • Euphyes vestrisDun Skipper, Dun Sedge Skipper, Sedge Witch)\
  • Globia oblongaOblong Sedge Borer Moth, Large Noagria
  • Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
  • Bactra cultellana
  • Bactra philocherda
Show all 11
  • Cosmopterix attenuatella
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
—Specialist beesPollen specialists
22BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Cyperus

  • Agelaius phoeniceusRed-winged Blackbird
  • Anas acutaNorthern Pintail
  • Anser albifronsGreater White-fronted Goose
  • Antigone canadensisSandhill Crane
  • Aythya affinisLesser Scaup
  • Aythya collarisRing-necked Duck
  • Aythya valisineriaCanvasback
  • Callipepla californicaCalifornia Quail
  • Colinus virginianusNorthern Bobwhite
  • Columbina passerinaCommon Ground Dove
Show all 22
  • Cyrtonyx montezumaeMontezuma Quail
  • Dendrocygna bicolorFulvous Whistling-Duck
  • Falcipennis canadensisSpruce Grouse
  • Gallinula galeataCommon Gallinule
  • Mareca americanaAmerican Wigeon
  • Mareca streperaGadwall
  • Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
  • Molothrus aterBrown-headed Cowbird
  • Pooecetes gramineusVesper Sparrow
  • Porzana carolinaSora
  • Spizella pusillaField Sparrow
  • Tympanuchus pallidicinctusLesser Prairie-Chicken
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Cyperaceae
Hardiness
Zones 8a–10b
Soil pH
Acidic or alkaline
Flower color
Brown/copper, yellow or red
Growth rate
Rapid
Growth habit
Spreads by rhizomes
Foliage color
Green
Fruit begins
Summer
Fruit ends
Fall

What its natural habitat tells you

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Earth Almond; Wild Chufa; Yellow Nut Sedge; Yellow Nutgrass; Yellwo Nut Grass

Conservation status

Florida rankSNR
Global rankG5
FL statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources