SafePlants

Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)

Yellow nutsedge, also known as chufa sedge, nut grass, yellow nutsedge, tiger nut sedge, or earth almond, is a common plant often found in lawns, gardens, and agricultural settings. It's a perennial weed that, while resembling grass, is actually a member of the sedge family.

Considerations for Pets

• Yellow nutsedge produces tubers at the end of rhizomes.
• It can be found in home lawns and gardens.

Considerations for Children

• Yellow nutsedge produces tubers at the end of rhizomes, sometimes referred to as "earth almonds," which are edible raw or cooked.
• It can be found in home lawns and gardens.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Cyperus esculentus
• Common Names: Chufa sedge, nut grass, yellow nutsedge, tiger nut sedge, earth almond, yellow nutgrass, chufa flatsedge, Ground almond, Northern nut-grass, watergrass.
• Family: Cyperaceae (sedge family)
• Synonyms/Former Names: It is worth noting that the name Long-stalked Yellow-sedge was formerly associated with *Carex lepidocarpa*.

Distribution and Habitat

• Yellow nutsedge is native to North America and Eurasia but is now found worldwide in warm and temperate zones, including Europe and Africa.
• It was introduced into the New World from the Old World.
• It is a common weed in landscapes and gardens across the coastal plains and is frequently found in poorly drained soils.
• It thrives in wet or boggy places.

Ecological Role

• Yellow nutsedge is considered a noxious weed in many areas.
• It is listed as a noxious weed in the USDA Plants database for California, Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington.
• It is a persistent perennial weed of poorly drained soils.
• Its aggressive nature makes it difficult to control and prevent its spread.

Morphological Characteristics

• Yellow nutsedge is an erect, grasslike perennial.
• It typically grows to a height of 12 to 32 inches (approximately 30 to 80 cm).
• The leaves are narrow, grass-like, deep to yellow-green, 1.5 to 5 mm wide, rather rigid, recurved, and have pale sheaths.
• It produces round, smooth, brown or black tubers that can be up to 1/2 inch at maturity. Only a single tuber forms at the end of a rhizome.
• Female spikes are not or shortly stalked. There are usually 3 female spikes altogether, the top two often almost globular and overlapping, the third somewhat distant.
• Only 1 male spike on most stems, with a stalk.

Quirky Facts

• The tubers of yellow nutsedge are edible and can be eaten raw or cooked, leading to the common name "earth almond."
• Despite resembling grass, yellow nutsedge is a sedge, distinguishable by its triangular stem.

Further Information

• Purdue Turfgrass Science (www.agry.purdue.edu/turf) offers information on yellow nutsedge control.
• The RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) provides help and information on Carex viridula (yellow-sedge).
• The USDA Plants database lists C. esculentus.