Yellow Nutsedge—Cyperus esculentus L.

A perennial grass-like sedge, yellow nutsedge is a common weed in home lawns and other turf areas, vegetable and flower gardens and can be a problem in crop fields.

yellow nutsedge infestation
Spread mainly by rhizomes, underground stems that produce tubers, new plants may form as much as 10 feet away. Each plant can produce several hundred to several thousand tubers each year.

yellow nutsedge plant
Stems are triangular-shaped. Leaves have a thick mid-vein and feel slick or waxy to the touch. Stems and leaves are yellowish-green. Leaves grow from the base in clusters of 3.

yellow nutsedge flower
Flowers and seeds are light brown. Leaves, or bracts, beneath the flowering tops are 2 to 10 inches long.

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[Photos, left to right: Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org; Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org; Jeff Stachler, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org]