Papyrus, Cyperus: Planting and Care

Description and botany

The Cyperus genus comprises over 600 species found in nearly all the world’s wetland habitats except the coldest. These may be annuals or evergreen perennials, including some highly troublesome adventives in agriculture and horticulture like Cyperus rotundus, native to India and extremely invasive. The most spectacular species for its height and inflorescence size remains Cyperus papyrus, a symbol of rebirth in ancient Egypt and the Lower Egypt region corresponding to the marshy Nile Delta. New, more compact cultivars like ‘Cleopatra’ and ‘Akhenaton’ have the advantage of being less prone to wind damage and are better suited to container growing.

The Cyperus gave their name to their family: the Cyperaceae. They form large clumps of thick, cylindrical or triangular stems – up to 3 cm wide at the base in Cyperus papyrus – reaching variable heights from 1.50 to 5 m tall in the Egyptian Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus). The stems bear narrow, gramineous leaves emerging from the base as in Cyperus albostriatus or are completely leafless like the Nile papyrus. Some species are deciduous, disappearing in winter like Cyperus longus or glaber, while others such as C. alternifolius and C. papyrus persist if temperatures remain mild. In the latter, the plant has no leaves but displays enormous clusters of very fine bracts at the top of its canes, forming a feathery spherical shape. Cyperus plants have rootstocks that allow fairly rapid spread and facilitate propagation. All their aerial parts contain chlorophyll, compensating for the absence of leaves when this occurs.

The highly decorative inflorescences form umbels that are flat (in whorls) or spherical with bracts, reaching up to 25 cm in diameter. These bracts are thread-like in the Nile Papyrus while forming blades 0.5 to 1 cm wide in Cyperus involucratus (syn. alternifolius) or albostriatus. Delicate, feathery spikes, yellowish or pale green, consisting of rather insignificant hermaphrodite flowers, emerge from the centre of the umbel and make the glossy deep green of the bracts shimmer.

At ripeness, the flowers turn brown during summer, releasing wind-dispersed seeds. The Nile Papyrus reproduces both by seed dispersal and vegetatively, through lateral growth of its rootstocks in the mud, forming dense thickets along banks that can grow up to 5 m high – obstacles only large animals like hippopotamuses can cross. Today, this iconic species has virtually disappeared from the Nile Delta due to flood control and the many infrastructures along the river (dams and bank development). Species with flat umbels, meanwhile, produce roots from their “heads” as soon as these come into contact with water.

Cyperus are very easy plants to grow indoors, with the added benefit of purifying the air in our confined spaces. They also help humidify dry indoor air in heated rooms.

The main varieties of Papyrus

Non-hardy varieties

Hardy varieties

Cyperus alternifolius - Umbrella Papyrus

The Umbrella Plant native to Madagascar is hardier and less demanding in terms of humidity than its famous Egyptian cousin. Less imposing, with a more rustic appearance thanks to its long stems topped with stiffer star-shaped tufts, it is also much easier to grow indoors, in a container submerged in a shallow amount of water. Not very hardy, it disappears below -4°C, though the stump can tolerate -8°C.

• Flowering time May, June
• Height at maturity 1 m

See the product sheet

Cyperus papyrus - Papyrus

A very beautiful perennial for damp areas, both exuberant and majestic, but not very hardy, with long stems topped with huge tufts of fine branches. Can also serve as a houseplant, to be grown in ordinary soil in a container submerged in a shallow amount of water and in a humid atmosphere.

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 2 m

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Cyperus papyrus Cleopatra - Papyrus

A dwarf version of the Papyrus of the Nile, this variety rarely exceeds 50 cm in height. It is often grown as an annual but can be kept frost-free in a pot submerged in a bucket of water.

• Flowering time July, August
• Height at maturity 50 cm

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Cyperus papyrus Akhenaton

A slightly more vigorous variety than Cleopatra, reaching 70 cm, to be grown as an annual or as a houseplant.

• Flowering time July to October
• Height at maturity 70 cm

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Cyperus longus

A rhizomatous perennial for riverbanks, with small brownish flowers held upright on very straight stems, accompanied by foliage that turns orange in autumn.

• Flowering time August to October
• Height at maturity 80 cm

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Cyperus glaber

The glabrous Cyperus, like the Papyrus but hardier, is a plant that loves water. It offers a beautiful flowering with large greenish spherical heads from July to September. Ideal for pond edges, it also makes a very attractive terrace plant, easy to grow in ordinary soil in a container submerged in a shallow amount of water.

• Flowering time August to October
• Height at maturity 60 cm

See the product sheet

Planting

Where to Plant Papyrus?

Plant Cyperus preferably in a very sunny spot. Their growth will be slower in partial shade. Opt for planting on the edges of a water feature to ensure constant moisture for the roots. All types of fairly rich soils suit them.

For Cyperus papyrus (Egyptian Papyrus) and alternifolius (Umbrella Plant), the submerged stump can survive if temperatures don’t drop too low in winter (-6 to -8°C if the soil is well-drained for C. alternifolius), and the plant will regenerate the following spring. In regions far from the coast, it’s essential to grow them in pots so they can be brought indoors before the first frosts in a bright room. The Umbrella Plant tolerates the dry indoor atmosphere better than Egyptian Papyrus. The species glaber and longus can withstand temperatures as low as -15°C without issue.

→ Learn more about growing Papyrus in pots

When to Plant?

• Spring is the best time to plant your papyrus outdoors.
• Wait until the last frosts have passed before moving the pot outside.

How to Plant?

To plant in a pot, create a mix of compost and garden soil, ideally clay or loam.

Choose a container wide enough to accommodate the rapid spread of the clump during the season.

Don’t bury the root ball deeper than it was in its original pot, but you can adjust the water level by fully submerging the pot with 5 to 10 cm of water above it or simply keeping the base of the container in water.

If you don’t submerge the pot in a pond, place a deep saucer constantly filled with water beneath the pot.

• Be cautious when exposing a plant that has been in a greenhouse or indoors. Gradually acclimatise it to avoid scorching the foliage after winter.
• Divide your papyrus when it becomes too large and share the young plants with friends and neighbours.
• Watch out for whiteflies or red spider mites indoors. These parasitic pests thrive in dry, warm conditions.
• In open ground, prepare the soil thoroughly over at least 50 cm in diameter.
• Enrich your soil if it’s poor by adding compost or well-rotted manure.
• Mulch generously with gravel or grass clippings to retain moisture.

Maintenance

• Ensure the soil remains consistently moist without allowing water to stagnate in the saucer.
• From April to the end of September, feed plants placed on a terrace or indoors with a liquid houseplant fertiliser twice a month.
• Cut back dry stems in November or before new growth begins.
• Bring the plant indoors or cover the stump with a thick layer of mulch, depending on the species’ cold tolerance.

Propagation: dividing, taking a cutting from papyrus

Dividing the stump between spring and summer is the simplest way to propagate papyrus plants. You can also take cuttings from the tips of stems from cyperus species other than the Nile papyrus.

Propagation by cuttings from shoot tips

• Cut shoot tips with a 10 cm section of stem.
• Let these shoot tips float upside down in water until roots appear.
• Then plant the rooted cuttings in soil. A new shoot will form.

→ Learn more in our tutorial: Propagating papyrus by cuttings

Dividing the stump

• Remove the root ball from its pot.
• Separate a portion of the root ball or just a stem with a piece of rootstock.
• Replant immediately in soil.

→ Learn more in our tutorial How to divide a papyrus or Cyperus plant?

Uses and Associations

Papyrus, a wonderful waterside plant for very mild climates, is also a stunning species for patios, relatively easy to grow provided the soil remains consistently moist. It will work wonders around a small above-ground pond on a terrace, for example, alongside Rhodocoma gigantea, a magnificent large restio, as well as Japanese maples for semi-shaded spots or agapanthus in full sun. These lush perennials will captivate enthusiasts of striking plants with their bamboolike silhouette, forming monumental sprays of large feathery plumes. Majestic when planted alone, their combination in borders or containers with cannas featuring purple or green foliage, bamboos, Nandinas, Dieramas or angel’s fishing rods, persicarias, or even a Gomphostigma virgatum will create a breathtaking scene.

An idea for a combination in a large half-barrel or small pond: Cyperus papyrus (‘Akhenaton’ or ‘Cleopatra’), Colocasia madeira and Nymphea ‘Attraction’

The Eurasian species Cyperus longus or Sweet Galingale is well-suited to ponds and lakes, providing shelter and nesting sites for wild pheasants, moorhens, and passing ducks. It spreads quite quickly via short rootstocks and can cover an area of 2–3 m² in no time. It is therefore best reserved for large, wild-style gardens, where it will add a beautiful orange glow in autumn. The advantage is that its dense foliage smothers all weeds.

Small ponds can accommodate Cyperus glaber or alternifolius, if the climate allows, for their graphic effect, which pairs well with Japanese horsetails as well as waterside perennials such as Virginia spiderwort, astilbes or primroses, or even stream sedges. These two sedges, with their upright form and rigid stems, are also prized in large pots to adorn a terrace or flank staircase steps.

→ Discover more ideas for combining Cyperus papyrus in our advice sheet!