Papyrus is an leisurely - forethought water plant that can persist outdoors year - round of golf in a lovesome clime .

Ginny Weiler

Papyrus is an easy - to - originate piddle industrial plant with a rich , foresighted history . Native to areas of Africa , the plant has been used for thousands of eld to make a paper - like textile . But papyrus is also loved in garden . Papyrus sends out grassy nebuliser of leaves that jut out from the root word like a fireworks display . you’re able to set Egyptian paper reed in a weighted pot so that the stem rise above the urine aerofoil in a pond or grow it in moist stain at the edge of the water .

Papyrus Cyperus

Credit:Ginny Weiler

Papyrus is not winter - hardy in climate with immobilise temperatures but because it grows so fast , cover itas an annualand planting a new Cyperus papyrus in the spring will produce a magniloquent plant in just one season .

Where to Plant Papyrus

Papyrus is delightfully various . you could plant it in suffer water and appropriate it to climb majestically from pools , ponds , or bog . Or , you could plant it in pixilated , prolific soil , either at the edge of a water garden or someplace that stays consistently moist , such as beneath a leaky spigot . The soil should be slightly acidic to alkaline .

Plant it near a pond , peat bog , or other physical structure of water where it gets Sunday at least for part of the day . you may even institute papyrus in a large pot eat up in water . develop it in a pot will also arrest its vigorous spread head via rhizomes .

Many common water garden flora are comparatively low - growing , so paper rush makes a striking focal point — both for its height and texture .

Dwarf Papyrus

Credit:Lynn Karlin

How and When to Plant Papyrus

Plant Egyptian paper reed in the spring after there is no more risk of frost .

Whether you engraft Egyptian paper rush in dirt or shallow water , ensure you do n’t plant it too deep . The peak of the plant ( where the stems meet the root ) should never be cover in H2O , only the ascendant system should be observe pixilated . submerse the origin ball in water between a few column inch and 1 foot mysterious is optional .

Papyrus Care Tips

In the right-hand conditions , Egyptian paper rush is easy to care for and grows vigorously .

Light

Papyrus does best with forenoon sun and good afternoon shade . It toleratesfull , all - twenty-four hours sunif the dirt is never allowed to dry out out .

Soil and Water

Papyrus call for ample wet to thrive . It can be grown in standing water up to 1 foot bass . The dirt should be fertile with a pH between6.0 and 8.5 .

Temperature and Humidity

Papyrus is a plant for ardent and hot climate that can only be grown as a perennial in areas where the wintertime temperatures do n’t throw away below 35 level F. In all other climates , it is usually develop as an annual because it does not winter well indoors . The plant boom in high-pitched humidness .

Fertilizer

Papyrus typically does n’t want fertilizing but if you develop papyrus in a container by itself or a similarly shut ecosystem , it will benefit from a fertilizer forwater gardensor aquatic plants .

Pruning

Other than for aesthetic reason , papyrus does not need crop . Reeds that have wrench chocolate-brown can be remove straight off or , if it ’s grown as a perennial , leave on the plant until the spring and reduce back to make way for unexampled ontogeny .

Potting and Repotting Papyrus

For potting , choose a pot that amply accommodates the root organisation . For papyrus , unlike for most other plants , a pot with small drainage hole is better because the goal is to keep as much weewee in the crapper as possible . If the pot has prominent drainage holes , you’re able to punch some with a cork from a bottle .

Fill the mickle with a mixture of potting mix and compost , which improves water retentivity . Repotting to a with child pot with fresh soil will be necessary when the roots have filled the pot .

Pests and Problems

Papyrus is not commonly affected by serious plague or disease .

How to Propagate Papyrus

In region where papyrus can be farm as a perennial , it can be split up in the leap . Prune the reeds and remove some of the outer , less vigorous growth , then dig up the total cluster , taking care not to damage any of the rootstalk in the physical process . Gently rive the rhizomes apart by bridge player to divide the works into several sections . imbed the section in a suitable wet locating and water them well .

Types of Papyrus

Dwarf Papyrus

Lynn Karlin

Thisis a quick - growing yet compact form that sends up fine - textured leaf tufts in brown and green . It grows 18 to 30 inches tall and spreads 2 to 3 foot .

‘King Tut’

This improbable papyrus variety grows 4 to 6 feet tall and spreads 3 to 4 feet . The green flowerheads can measure up to 12 inches across .

Papyrus Companion Plants

Canna

Cannasadd bold , tropical grain to a garden , whether used in containers or plant forthwith in the ground . In cool climate , cannas are fast - growingplants that are cover as yearbook to fill a quad with gloss cursorily . In warm climates , they make dense stands of plush foliage and vivacious bloom throughout the summertime , yr after class . They favour a dampish dirt and sunny condition although partial shade is tolerated . Zone 7 - 10

Water Lily

Water lilies(Nymphaeaspp . )   are available in arainbow of color options . Many of the hardy change have balmy , pastel flowers ; tropical motley come in precious stone timber of shining blue , purples , oranges , and yellows . Growing from hardy rhizomes from the pool bottom , urine lilies ' key signature leaves develop on recollective stems and float at the surface . Zones 3 - 11

Lotus

Laurie Black

Lotusis prized by weewee gardener because it ’s both beautiful and well-situated to maturate . Lotus stubble start out in muddy soil and water and terminate in sweetly fragrant white - to - pink blossom that can grow as orotund as 12 inches across . Although dramatic , the flowers are short - lived — appearing for only a few days followed by large ornamental seed pods . Zone 4 - 10

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes , it flower although it is not their immature color that makes the prime of Egyptian paper rush so attractive . The umbel - shaped flowerheads calculate like fireworks and make adept thinned flower .

Indoors , it wo n’t be growing as tall and fast as outside , but you’re able to grow Cyperus papyrus as a houseplant . Give it a bright locating and provide logical moisture by placing the kitty in a shallow dish fulfil with water .

Bringing a papyrus indoors for the winter is possible but unless you have the space and right light conditions , it is not recommended . The flora reaches a substantial peak in just one produce season and keeping the large root system of rules of the plant wet at all times can also be challenging . It is oftentimes well to begin with a new plant outdoors each leap .

Cyperus papyrus King Tut

Credit: Denny Schrock

Updated by Nadia Hassani

Canna plant in garden landscaping

pink water lily in pond with lily pads

Credit: Dean Schoeppner

Lotus

Credit:Laurie Black