West Africa, Madagascar and the Arabian Peninsula; now grown and naturalised widely
Water
freshwater
Temperature
10–28°C
Care level
expert
Lighting
Bright light; grown emersed
Care
Warning: this is a bog (marginal) plant, not an underwater plant. Kept fully submerged it slowly dies. Grow it with its roots and the base of the stems in water, for example in a paludarium, at the back of an open-topped tank with the leaves above the water, or in a pond margin. The umbrella papyrus is a sedge with tall stems topped by a spray of leaf-like bracts, like the spokes of an umbrella. It needs constant moisture and grows happily in a few centimetres of water, and is a common pot plant, pond plant and houseplant. The variegated cultivar is smaller. It is not frost-hardy and needs protection below about 5 °C. Water figures are our estimate, not from the sources. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyperusalternifolius); Wikipedia, List of freshwater aquarium plant species. Checked October 2026.
Breeding
Divide the clump, or cut off a stem top with its umbrella of bracts and float it upside down in water; new plantlets and roots form at the centre.
Compatibility and tank mates
Do not sell or buy it as a true aquarium plant. Its emersed stems are not eaten by fish.
Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.
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Items are sold by auction, buy it now or classified advert, by hobbyist and business sellers in the UK.
Buyers pay sellers directly; Aquatic-Auctions does not hold the money. Hobbyist sellers must offer PayPal and may also take cash on collection. Business sellers take PayPal (required) or cash on collection, and bank transfer only once they have a seller rating of 50 out of 100, a company and pet-selling licence checked by Aquatic-Auctions, a bank account in the company's name, and bank details approved by Aquatic-Auctions.
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Live fish and other vertebrates must be sent by specialist live-animal couriers (for example APC Overnight or DX Express), never by Royal Mail. Some invertebrates and plants may go by Royal Mail Special Delivery or 1st Class within its rules.
Banned and invasive species (for example those on the GB invasive species lists) cannot be listed, and sellers must meet the site’s animal welfare standards.
Members must be 16 or over to buy (16 and 17-year-olds with a parent or guardian’s agreement); sellers must be 18 or over.
Business sellers show their address, company details and pet-selling licence to buyers. Seller ratings run from 0 to 100: +1 for each positive feedback, −1 for each negative.
The site includes a free community species wiki with care guides (water parameters, tank size, diet, temperament, breeding).
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