The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Gary Bachman is an Extension and research professor of horticulture at the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi and hosts Southern Gardening television and radio programs. Home gardeners find the plant’s growth rate and unique texture worth the annual investment.ĭr. But even if your papyruses don’t come back the next spring, you can buy one or two each year and treat them as annuals. Further north, in Mississippi zones 8 and 9, papyrus usually dies back to the ground in cold weather and returns the next year.Įven in zone 7, regrowth can occur, especially if the plant is heavily mulched after cold weather sets in. ![]() You can consider these papyrus varieties perennials in areas where winter temperatures remain above 35 degrees. Papyrus plants generally don’t handle extended freezing temperatures very well. It is best to keep the soil moist, but once established, these plants are surprisingly tolerant of dry conditions. King Tut, Prince Tut and Baby Tut also do well when planted in normal landscape beds. A neat idea is to plant your papyrus in a container with the bottom holes plugged, keeping the root ball wet and happy. ![]() Papyrus plants love to be planted where the root ball stays really moist, like along the edge of a pond or in a rain garden. The flower clusters appear at the ends of these rays. There is also an even smaller papyrus choice called Baby Tut, which stands less than 2 feet tall and would be fantastic in a container on the porch or patio.Īll three papyrus selections feature triangular green stems topped by an umbrella-like inflorescence made of hundreds of thread-like rays. I find it is perfect for displaying the 3-foot plant. I grow Prince Tut in my landscape in a large terra cotta container. Prince Tut is a fun plant and will not overwhelm a smaller space. But if you want that exotic look in your landscape, there are other, smaller options among the papyrus varieties. If you have a small growing space, then King Tut may just be too big. Its dramatic appearance makes for a great conversation about its connection to the distant past. King Tut is a member of the same papyrus family of plants that the ancient Egyptians used to make paper. This grass-like plant growing in Mississippi State University’s trial garden can easily grow to 6 feet tall, and it has a striking presence in the landscape. Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp () is treasurer of Garden Writers Association and co-author of “The Indiana Gardener's Guide.” Write to her at P.O.At the 43rd annual Ornamental Field Day at the South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station in Poplarville, one plant that drew a lot of attention was the exotic-looking King Tut papyrus. Look for Prince Tut next year in garden centers. It is not winter-hardy here, so it never reaches the size to harvest for paper. Like its kin, Prince Tut is very tolerant to heat and does fine in full sun to part shade. Prince Tut has gone dry a few times, but has not suffered one bit.Īside from its size, the form of this plant is an attribute, too. They used the plant for lots of things, from paper to boats and sandals to rope. The fine, grass-like foliage atop the stems is clean and beautiful, adding just enough height and texture to make any of its companion plants shine.Ĭyperus papyrus is the plant that yields papyrus of ancient Egyptian times. So far none has broken, even from the periodic strong winds we’ve had this summer. The foliage is light and airy, and the stems are very strong. At 30-48 inches tall, Prince Tut is between King and Baby. This year, Proven Winners sent me Prince Tut Egyptian papyrus for a trial, and I love it. Although considerably shorter than King Tut, the stems still were not very sturdy. involucratus), which was a much more manageable at 18-24 inches tall. Then, along came another papyrus: Baby Tut umbrella grass (C. ![]() If there was a drawback, it was its weak, 5- to 6-foot tall stems, which bent and broke in the wind or with handing. King Tut Egyptian papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) was a showstopper when it was introduced several years ago. Favored for its dramatic height in a large container or in the ground, it really did well along the margins of ponds and in water gardens.
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