Height: 8 feet
Spread: 4 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 8b
Description:
This variety is a semi-aquatic, grass-like plant producing long green stems with green bracts; perfect for pond side planting or in wet areas of the garden; doesn't mind being submerged up to twelve inches
Ornamental Features
Papyrus' attractive grassy leaves remain green in color throughout the season on a plant with an upright spreading habit of growth.
Landscape Attributes
Papyrus is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.
This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Papyrus is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Mass Planting
- General Garden Use
- Water Gardens
- Container Planting
- Bog Gardens
Planting & Growing
Papyrus will grow to be about 8 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It tends to be leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and should be underplanted with lower-growing perennials. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!
This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in moist to wet soil, and will even tolerate some standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division.
Papyrus is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
