How to Grow Cyperus Plants in your Garden

Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Bulrush, Papyrus, Australian Bush Onion, and Flatsedge

The Cyperus member Papyrus is famed as the plant the Egyptians used to make paper to write on.

It is an half hardy perennial grass. It can reach up to 1.5 m (5 feet) in height.

Cyperus plants have large thick stalks, and carry green or cream flowers in the autumn.

Members of the Cyperus genus are water loving plants. Some of the more common names include, Bulrush, Papyrus, Umbrella grass, and Galingale.

Cyperus javanicus by D.Eickhoff.

Cyperus papyrus by mauroguanandi.

How to Grow Papyrus and other Cyperus

Due to their water loving nature, it is probably best to start Cyperus plants off in pots, and then submerge them into a water feature in your garden.

Seeds should be prepared about eight weeks before they are due to be transplanted outdoors, in the spring or at the beginning of autumn.

The seeds of Cyperus members, such as Papyrus and Bulrush, should be sown into pots and lightly covered.

The soil should be rich and kept moist. The germination process takes about one month, at 22 degrees centigrade (72°F).

Caring for Papyrus

Once established, the growing Papyrus seedlings (in their pots) should be transferred into shallow water by a pond that is located in a sunny spot.

When temperatures start to get cold, then the Papyrus plants should be brought indoors for the winter. If you want to have more Cyperus plants to grow, then they can be divided at the beginning of spring.

I hope that you found this guide on how to grow Papyrus plants in your garden. You may also enjoy my gardening guides on how to grow Cotton Sedge, Briza plant, and Panicum plants.