About Cyperus alternifolius L.
Cyperus alternifolius, commonly called umbrella papyrus, umbrella sedge, or umbrella palm, is a grass-like species belonging to the large genus Cyperus in the sedge plant family, Cyperaceae. This plant is native to West Africa, Madagascar, and the Arabian Peninsula, and is now widely distributed across the globe. It has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. The subspecies Cyperus alternifolius ssp. flabelliformis is also known by the scientific name Cyperus involucratus Rottb.. Cyperus alternifolius is often cultivated as an ornamental plant in locations around the world. It can be grown planted directly in garden soil, in containers, in ponds, or kept as an indoor houseplant. It is not cold hardy, and needs protection when temperatures drop below 5 °C (41 °F); it grows in USDA Zones 9a–11b. It can be propagated by dividing its roots, or by cutting off a top growth section and placing it upside down in a glass of water. This species requires large amounts of moisture, and can grow successfully in just a few inches of water. The cultivar Cyperus alternifolius 'Variegatus' is cultivated for its variegated foliage and smaller mature size.
