GRACEFUL GRASSES® PRINCE TUT™ CYPERUS IN UPRIGHT CONTAINERS

Prince Tut thrives with consistent moisture and has an extensive root system. When growing it in containers, choose one that is a minimum of 12” in diameter—the larger the better. Self-watering AquaPots® or containers made of glazed clay or other non-porous material are ideal since they will help the soil retain moisture. Scroll down to find recipe ideas as well as best practices for planting and tending our Annual of the Year in upright containers.

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Blind Love recipe

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Graceful Grasses® Prince Tut™ Papyrus

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Zippy Recipe

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Graceful Grasses® Prince Tut™ Papyrus

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Egyptian Gems Recipe

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Click the images above to learn more about each recipe.

PLANTING YOUR UPRIGHT CONTAINER

  • Select a container that is a minimum of 12” diameter, or larger if your growing season is relatively long. A larger container will better accommodate the extensive root system of Prince Tut and make it easier to plant other flowers along with it.
  • If you are growing Prince Tut on its own in a container, you can use one that does not have any drainage holes. This will essentially turn your container into a mini bog garden, and the papyrus will love all that extra moisture. But if you are pairing Prince Tut with other plants in a container, it must have drainage holes since the other plants will require it.
  • Start by positioning your Prince Tut papyrus as the thriller in your container. If it will be seen from all sides, plant it in the middle. If it will be set up against a wall, plant it in the back.
  • Depending on the size of your container, you may need just two more plants to fill out the edges or several more. Space them a few inches apart around Prince Tut to give their roots room to grow.
  • Use a good quality potting soil in your container. If you are pairing Prince Tut with other moisture-loving varieties, consider using a moisture control potting soil.
  • Mix a bit of continuous release plant food into the potting soil before you add the plants. This will ensure a small amount of nutrients is available to the plants throughout the growing season.
  • Water your newly planted container immediately to help the soil settle in around the plants’ roots.
CARING FOR YOUR UPRIGHT CONTAINER

Sunlight and water are the two primary needs of this low maintenance ornamental papyrus. Follow the tips below to get the best performance from your plants.

SUNLIGHT

  • The size and robustness of your Prince Tut papyrus will depend in part on how much sunlight it receives. It grows the biggest when it has six or more hours of sun per day and consistent moisture. However, the plants will also grow and bloom well in part sun. They will just be a bit smaller.
  • This grass is amazingly tolerant of a range of sun conditions. It won’t burn from the sun’s intense reflection off of the water if you grow it in a pond. It will also continue to bloom if it receives just a few hours of sun plus open shade for the remainder of the day. Dark spots in the garden are not the best place for Prince Tut.

WATER

  • Cyperus papyrus is traditionally considered to be an aquatic plant, meaning it grows well in shallow water and at the water’s edge. Today’s modern varieties like Prince Tut papyrus are well-adapted to use as a modern ornamental for container combinations and landscapes. It retains a strong preference for moist soil which is easier to provide when you grow the plant in a self-watering container or in a container with a large soil volume.
  • Water Prince Tut regularly and don’t let the soil dry out to the point your plants start to wilt, as this will cause its plumes to turn brown. If this happens, trim away the damaged bits to make room for new plumes to form.

PLANT FOOD

  • Prince Tut papyrus needs far less plant food than hungry annuals like petunias, so it is ideal to pair it with other foliage plants like ColorBlaze® coleus, Sweet Caroline sweet potato vines or Plum Dandy™ alternanthera which also do not need to be fed often. It won’t hurt the plant if it gets fed a little more often than necessary, but generally ornamental grasslike plants do not require much fertilizer.
  • At time of planting, add some Proven Winners continuous release plant food to the potting mix. Follow package directions for rates. This will provide a small amount of nutrients to the plant through the season. If you are growing Prince Tut in a warm climate year-round, scratch another scoop of continuous release plant food into the soil halfway through the season.

TRIMMING

  • Prince Tut is an evergreen grass that produces new flower plumes all season long. Once they are spent, the individual plumes turn light brown and should be trimmed away to make room for new ones to form. It is normal to see some browning of the oldest plumes; that is not a sign of decline. However, if your whole plant begins to turn brown, it is likely not receiving adequate moisture for the conditions.
  • In tropical zones 10-11 where this plant is hardy, it will remain green year-round. If it grows too large for your container and needs to be divided, do so only in the spring since fall division can greatly impact its ability to live through the winter.
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