Cyperus alternifolius
- Delicate and graceful leaves and airy flower heads sway gently with the slightest breeze.
- Frequently cultivated as an ornamental plant worldwide.
- Reseeds to naturalize in meadows or on slopes for erosion control, though not a pest.
- Combine with Sedums and Asters or tuck into a rock garden.
The Umbrella Plant is a very popular house plant and commonly grown as a marginal pond plant. Growing to a height of 24 inches the bracts are symmetrically arranged in an umbrella formation and held atop elegant stems that sway with the breeze, giving a tropical touch to the garden. This lovely and versatile plant is easily grown and makes an excellent ornamental waterside or marginal plant for water gardens.
As an indoor pot plant they are useful for homes and conservatory, or as interior plant for commercial offices, hotels and malls, ideally in containers stood in water. Its fascinating shape makes it a great plant for landscaping, and as an accent plant or informal screen.
As a background plant, it combines well with other foliage plants or flowering plants in garden beds or borders, it can be used an accent plant for added interest and height.
It is impossible to over water the Umbrella Plant as it enjoys damp and boggy conditions, so is ideal for beginners or for any seasoned gardeners remotely interested in water gardens. It can be grown in shallow water of small fish ponds as a water filtration marginal plant.
It makes an excellent tropical water garden center piece, and can be grown in the pool as an aquatic plant, or around them in the ground as a waterside or bog garden plant.
Common Names: Umbrella Plant, Umbrella Papyrus, Umbrella Palm.