King Tut Potted Plants

The exotic-looking King Tut plant (Cyperus papyrus "King Tut") makes a striking centerpiece in your backyard or on a patio. Although usually grown in ponds and gardens, this low-maintenance tall sedge grass also thrives in large containers, making it handy for smaller yards or even apartment balconies. The King Tut makes a great conversation piece due to its dramatic appearance and family connection to the time of the pharaohs.


King Tut is a member of the same papyrus family of plants from which the ancient Egyptians made paper. Some papyrus plants grow up to 15 feet tall, but the King Tut cultivar is a dwarf variety that reaches 4 or 5 feet in height. Large pendulous heads with medium-green leafy rays adorn the sturdy stems, and green-brown flower clusters appear during the summer. Eventually, the flowers produce nutlike fruits. If garden space is at a premium, consider the even smaller Baby Tut cultivar.


Even the dwarf King Tut needs a fairly large container. A galvanized metal bushel should do well, but ceramic and plastic are also good choices. It's best to use a pot without any drainage holes at the bottom since this is a water-loving species. If all you have is a container with holes, plug the holes or place a saucer filled with water underneath the pot. Note that the King Tut is a fast grower and crowds out other plants if not given enough space. If you have a pond and plan to use King Tut as an accent, grow it in a container placed underwater to keep it from invading other plants and for easier access and maintenance.


King Tut plants do best in soil with a pH from 6 to 8 and small amounts of a mild, balanced organic fertilizer. It prefers a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight a day, but the most important consideration is water. The soil must be kept moist to wet. If it gets too dry, stems can kink over and not straighten back up, and you'll have to cut them off. In general, King Tut plants don't need to be deadheaded, but if you need to trim a few droopy stems, simply snip them off with scissors.

Winter Care

The Tut plant is rated for U.S. Department of Agriculture planting zones 10 and above and is a hardy perennial as long as it can avoid extended freezing temperatures. A freeze will kill the top, but the plant may recover if the roots are fairly deep, mulched or under water. If you live in zones 8 and 9, you can overwinter your King Tut plants indoors near a bright sunny window in a cooler room. However, you can also treat the plant as an annual and simply replant anew each spring.

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