Dwarf Papyrus

Dwarf Papyrus (Cyperus prolifer) is a small water-edge sedge with slender stems 40 to 60cm tall, each topped with a fine green pom-pom tuft. It gives a pond margin, water bowl or bog pot the look of papyrus at a size that fits a courtyard, and it stays green all year where winters are warm.

Why you'll love it

• Papyrus on a small scale. The whole clump stays about knee high, so it suits a glazed bowl on a patio as well as the shallow shelf of a pond.
• Fine, airy texture. Each stem ends in a soft tuft of thread-like rays that moves in the lightest breeze and softens hard edges.
• Happy with wet feet. It grows in permanently wet soil or with up to about 10cm of water over the crown, where most garden plants rot.
• Evergreen in warm gardens. In frost-free areas it holds its stems through winter and keeps a water feature looking planted.

Where it works best

Pond margins. Sit the pot on a shallow shelf with the crown at water level or up to 10cm under. Space plants 30 to 40cm apart for a continuous fringe.

Water bowls and tubs. One or two plants give height in a bowl without shading out everything else. It pairs well with floating-leaved plants at its feet.

Bog pots and wet corners. A pot with no drainage holes, or one stood in a deep saucer that never dries, grows it just as well as a pond.

Growing Dwarf Papyrus in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade, with at least four hours of direct sun for sturdy stems. It suits tropical, subtropical, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens. It is frost tender: in cold areas move the pot under cover or into a bright sheltered spot over winter.

Soil and planting depth. Use heavy garden loam in the pot, topped with gravel so the soil stays put. Keep the crown at water level or no more than about 10cm below the surface. Still or gently moving water both suit it.

Water and feed. Never let it dry out. In a bowl, top the water up through summer as it evaporates. Push a little slow-release fertiliser into the soil in spring, and go lightly, because rich feeding makes soft stems that flop.

Pruning. Cut browned or bent stems at the base whenever you see them. Divide the clump every two or three years in spring, replanting the young outer pieces.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Dwarf Papyrus in 140mm pots in packs of 10 and 200mm pots in packs of 6. A pack of ten edges a good length of pond margin or fills several bowls, while the 200mm plants are fuller and make their mark sooner. Plants arrive potted and damp, not submerged, so set them into water or wet soil promptly and do not let the pots dry out in the meantime. A stem or two may bend in transit: trim it off and new ones follow quickly in warm weather. Our growers do not hold every size all year, so a size can show as on backorder at times. An order for a backorder size is confirmed with you before anything ships.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The best water plants for Australian garden ponds
• Grasses, sedges and strappy leaf plants
• More plants for pots and containers

Common questions

Can I grow it without a pond?

Yes. Any container that holds water will do, or an ordinary pot stood in a deep saucer that is kept full. The one thing it will not forgive is drying out.

How deep can the water be?

Keep it shallow. The crown should sit at water level or up to about 10cm under the surface; deeper than that and the plant weakens.

What do I do with it in a frosty winter?

Frost burns the stems. Lift the pot before the first frost and keep it wet in a bright, sheltered place such as a covered patio, then return it in spring.