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Rhynchospora spp.

beaksedges

Cyperaceae

Cosmopolitan; greatest diversity in tropical and warm-temperate Americas

Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterHigh

HardinessZones 5–10

Overview

Rhynchospora spp. is a genus of about 350 to 400 species of grass-like sedges in the family Cyperaceae, distributed across tropical and temperate regions worldwide, with the greatest diversity in the Americas. Most species are perennials forming tufts or running colonies from rhizomes, though some are annuals. Plants stand 6 inches to 5 feet (15 to 150 cm) tall, with three-sided or rounded stems and narrow, often keeled leaves 1 to 6 mm wide. The flowers are small and grouped in spikelets; the genus is named for the persistent beak-like tubercle that crowns each small nutlet. In several species, such as R. colorata and R. nivea, the bracts beneath the flower clusters are white, forming a star-shaped pattern that contrasts with the green foliage. The genus occupies wet habitats, including bogs, pine savannas, seepage slopes, marsh margins, and damp sandy flats, and most species need consistently moist to saturated soil. A limitation in cultivation is intolerance of prolonged drought, which causes the foliage of wetland species to brown and die back. Several species spread by rhizomes and can form broad colonies where conditions suit them.

Native Range

Rhynchospora spp. is nearly cosmopolitan, native to wet habitats across the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe. Species diversity is highest in the warm-temperate and tropical Americas, including the southeastern United States, the Caribbean, and Brazil.

Suggested Uses

Rhynchospora spp. species are used in rain gardens, bog gardens, pond margins, and restored wetlands. White-bracted species such as R. colorata are grown as groundcover and edging in moist sites, where the pale bracts read against darker foliage.

How to Identify

Identify Rhynchospora spp. by its three-sided sedge stems, narrow grass-like leaves, and clusters of brown to straw-colored spikelets. Each ripe nutlet is topped by a distinct beak-like tubercle, the feature behind the common name beaksedge. White-bracted species such as R. colorata are recognized by the narrow white leaf-like bracts that radiate beneath the flower head.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 5'

Width/Spread6" - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering occurs mainly from late spring through summer, with white-bracted species holding their bracts for several weeks. In frost-free regions some species flower intermittently through much of the year. The small spikelets ripen to brown nutlets that persist into fall.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to brown

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range4.5 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam peat

Drainagewet

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Across the genus, Rhynchospora spp. grows in full sun to part shade in consistently moist to wet soil, including the margins of ponds and rain gardens. Most species prefer acidic conditions, with soil pH from about 4.5 to 6.5, and decline where soil dries out for extended periods. Wetland species tolerate standing water of 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.5 cm). Plants are propagated by division of the rhizomes or by seed. Rhizomatous species can spread beyond their planting area in moist ground. Foliage is left standing over winter in mild climates and cut back in early spring where it dies down.

Pruning

Maintenance is minimal. Old foliage and spent flower stems can be cut to the ground in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Dividing congested clumps every few years controls spread and renews vigor.