Rhynchospora colorata: Country Or Region Of Origin
Southeastern U.S.A., Mexico, South America
Plant Profile: Rhynchospora colorata
Taxonomy: Rhynchospora colorataNames
Narrowleaf Whitetop Sedge, Starrush Whitetop, Star Sedge, White Beak-Sedge, White-Topped Sedge, Whitetop Sedge
Phonetic Spelling:RIN-koh-SPOR-uh kol-oh-RAH-tuh
Genus:Rhynchospora
Species:colorata
Family:Cyperaceae
Narrowleaf Whitetop Sedge is a native perennial that remains green year-round, typically found in moist coastal regions, sand dunes, and along roadsides and ditches. This resilient plant thrives in various soil types, whether well-drained or not, and can even grow submerged in shallow water.
Visually, it resembles grass and features daisy-like flowers with elongated, drooping petals.
The plant propagates through rhizomes, and it is advisable to divide the clumps when they become overly large. Pruning during the winter encourages vigorous growth in the spring.
Insects, diseases, and other potential plant issues:
Rhynchospora colorata Feature Summary
Rhynchospora colorata Image Gallery
Tags
#wildlife plant
#sedge
#NC native
#deer resistant
#coastal plants
#food source fall
#food source herbage
#Coastal FACW
#Piedmont Mountains FACW
#native sedge
#humidity tolerant
#food source hard mast fruit
#audubon
Similar Plants
Rhynchospora colorata is often confused with:
Rhynchospora colorata Feature Summary
Attributes
Southeastern U.S.A., Mexico, South America
AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TX, VA
Attractive to bees and butterflies.
Perennial
Attracts Pollinators
Fruit
Displays from June to October.
Flowers
The 2-3" cone-shaped green-tipped white flowers bloom from May to September.
White
Green
Summer
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Erect
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Coastal
Piedmont
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Leaves
Stem
Landscape
Water Garden
Wet Soil
Coastal
Songbirds
Small Mammals
Rhynchospora colorata Image Gallery
Rhynchospora colorata Attributes
Rhynchospora colorata: Distribution
AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TX, VA
Rhynchospora colorata: Wildlife Value
Attractive to bees and butterflies.
Rhynchospora colorata: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Rhynchospora colorata: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Rhynchospora colorata: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Rhynchospora colorata Fruit
Rhynchospora colorata: Fruit Description
Displays from June to October.
Rhynchospora colorata: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Rhynchospora colorata Flowers
Rhynchospora colorata: Flower Description
The 2-3" cone-shaped green-tipped white flowers bloom from May to September.
Rhynchospora colorata: Flower Color
Green
White
Rhynchospora colorata: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Rhynchospora colorata: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Rhynchospora colorata: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Rhynchospora colorata Whole Plant Traits
Rhynchospora colorata: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Rhynchospora colorata: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Rhynchospora colorata Cultural Conditions
Rhynchospora colorata: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Rhynchospora colorata: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Rhynchospora colorata: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Rhynchospora colorata: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Rhynchospora colorata: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Rhynchospora colorata Leaves
Rhynchospora colorata: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Rhynchospora colorata: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Rhynchospora colorata: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Rhynchospora colorata: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Rhynchospora colorata Stem
Rhynchospora colorata: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Rhynchospora colorata Landscape
Rhynchospora colorata: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Rhynchospora colorata: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Rhynchospora colorata: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Rhynchospora colorata: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
