Cyperus papyrus 'Dwarf Form' at San Marcos Growers





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Products > Cyperus papyrus 'Dwarf Form'

Cyperus papyrus 'Dwarf Form' - Little Giant Papyrus

Note: This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.

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Habit and Cultural Information

Category: Grass-like

Family: Cyperaceae (Sedges)

Origin: Africa, North (Africa)

Evergreen: Yes

Flower Color: Brown

Bloomtime: Summer

Synonyms: [C. papyrus percamentus, Hort, 'Nanus' ]

Height: 2-3 feet

Width: Clumping

Exposure: Sun or Shade

Irrigation (H2O Info): High Water Needs

Winter Hardiness: 20-25� F

Cyperus papyrus 'Tutankhamun' (Little Giant Papyrus) - This is a diminutive form of Egyptian papyrus, growing to only 2 to 3 feet tall. This plant is a vigorous grower in or out of water. Plant it up to 12 inches deep in water or in rich moist soil in full sun to medium shade (more shade tolerant than regular papyrus). It is hardy to about 20-25 degrees F. Its compact habit and shade tolerance make it well-suited to a smaller water garden but also make it a great addition to the large pond. This plant was discovered in 1993 during a Cyperus propagation research project at Kagawa University in Japan. In the course of this research a dwarf form of papyrus was isolated and it was determined that it was not only dwarf but grew with thicker stems and with more flower peduncles (the tassels at the top of a Cyperus stem) that were more compact than those on the full-sized papyrus. It was also found to be considerably more shade tolerant than the full-sized plants that it was beind being compared to. This plant has been marketed in the US since 2004 under the invalid name Cyperus papyrus percamentus. The late Greg Speichert, aquatic plant specialist and author (with wife Sue) of the "Encyclopedia of Water Garden Plants" (Timber Press, 2004) provided us with the background material on this plant, as published in the International Society of Horticultural Science and suggested we change the name. We are now using the cultivar name 'Dwarf Form' to describe this plant to avoid confusion with another taller plant being marketed under the name we previously used. Our thanks to Randy McDonald of McDonald Water Gardens in Reseda, CA for our original stock on this plant. We also grow the full size species, Cyperus papyrus. We originally grew this plant starting in 2006 with a famous young Egyptian king's name as its cultivar name but this name became trademarked and we reverted back to using the current moniker of 'Dwarf Form'. Another name for this plant is Cyperus papyrus 'Nanus' and under this name this plant received the prestigious Royal Horticulture Award of Garden Merit in 2002.

This information about Cyperus papyrus 'Dwarf Form' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.

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