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Niagara Falls mystery

comments (11) October 6th, 2009 in gallery

KarinofQuebec KarinofQuebec, member
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Sent to me by my BFF in Niagara Falls - she found this in her garden.  Any ideas?

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Comments (11)

ThankGod4Gardening writes: This does look like Nut Sedge. It is a beyond an invasive weed here in the mid-west...if you get it into your lawn, good-luck. I struggled with it for years until I figured out that it was smarter than I was. I tried just covering it up with a high quality landscape fabric thinking I could smother it. It laughed at me when the leave blades simply sawed through it with those sharp little edges in less than one season. But fear not, there are ways to get it under control…its education that I needed. So, I set out on a quest—here are a few facts I learned about Nut Sedge. 1st - timing is everything with this weed. Don't ask me why but, it must be attacked before the longest day of the summer (here that’s June 21st). It has something to do with the maturity of the “nuts” it produces, which are attached to the roots of this plant. Pulling it after that date, produces 3 plants for every one you pull so, be prepared to repeat the process…and pull them as young as possible to avoid production and maturity of more “nuts”. There is no quick fix. It also multiplies by those lovely seeds shown in your photo so, if you can’t keep up at least clip the seeds off and remove. 2nd - Round up only tickles it and causes you to loose valuable time. Sedge Hammer is the only poison I know of that stands a chance against it—the earlier in the season, the better; and count on the fact that it will take multiple applications. If Nut Sedge is found after mid-June, save your money because even Sedge Hammer has its limits. And be prepared that Sedge Hammer availability has been limited, even unavailable, around here some years…and the freezing of the stored product, may reduce results the next time you use it. Lastly, I heard that overlaying plastic to create the sterilization of a bed may also work, but I haven’t tried it personally. Good luck on your quest and remember gardening is not a destination, but a journey…and some of the most beautiful flowers started out as weeds! Posted: 12:26 pm on February 26th
Comarish59 writes: It's hard to tell from the photo, but it appears to stuck into a bud vase. This would make it much larger than a nutsedge. I believe it is probably an umbrella plant or papyrus plant. Sorry, the latin name escapes me at the moment. It could also be a dwarf papyrus which more closely resembles the nutsedge to which they are related. I have clumps of each on opposite sides of my koi pond. The umbrella plant has stems 3-5 feet tall, while the dwarf averages 18 inches to 2 feet. It just came back to me; the umbrella plant is cyperus alternifolius, the dwarf papyrus is cyperus isocladus(I think). The dwarf forms whorls of leaves up to a foot across, while the umbrella plant forms whorls up to 2 feet across and is viviparous. Neither of these are native, but can naturalize under the right conditions. Also, most references state the umbrella plant is only cold hardy to zone 7, but a friend of mine's grandmother has been growing them for over 40 years on the borderline between zones 5 and 6. The dwarf is listed as being hardy for zones 9-11, I'm in zone 7 and have had no problems in the 3 years I've had them. Posted: 1:31 am on December 1st
JWE writes: Looks like nutsedge, the plague of my existence in the garden. Posted: 7:08 pm on November 3rd
Agricator writes: Nutsedge
Scientific name: Cyperus spp. (Sedge Family: Cyperaceae)

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DESCRIPTION:
Nutsedges are perennial weeds in the sedge family that superficially resemble grasses. Nutsedges grow mainly from tubers or "nutlets" formed on rhizomes, mostly in the upper foot of soil. Leaves are V-shaped in cross section and arranged in sets of three at the base. Stems are triangular in cross section. Tubers of yellow nutsedge are produced singly while purple nutsedge tubers are produced in chains, several on a single rhizome.
Posted: 9:55 am on November 3rd
tetla writes: The mystery plant seems to be Ciperus alternifolium. Am I right? Posted: 11:12 pm on November 2nd
2sad writes: You have it, nut sedge. It is hard to get rid of in a garden, very prolific. Posted: 3:55 pm on November 2nd
cooke writes: Products called Manage and Image are also supposed to kill nutsedge. Posted: 4:44 pm on October 19th
N2Outdrs writes: Yes, it is a sedge. In California there is a product called "Sedge hammer" that is supposed to kill the nut. Google "getting rid of nut sedge" and I'm sure you will find other products. A friend of mine once told me the saying "Rushes are round, sedges have edges" and that help me initially identify plants such as this. Posted: 10:37 am on October 19th
annierooney writes: looks like nutsedge to me. it is a vicious weed in the south. roundup won't kill it. I spent the better part of the summer trying to get rid of some, and it just keeps coming back from it's underground nut. We have some canadian thistle which trucks seem to bring south with them. roundup will work on it. Posted: 9:11 am on October 19th
Conon1 writes: Yep, that is yellow nut sedge. triangular stem is the tell-tale sign of a sedge.

conon, evansville, in - 6b Posted: 12:01 am on October 15th
katie74 writes: looks like nut sedge, a really annoying weed here in zn6-7, but I could be Posted: 8:15 pm on October 11th
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