The strong-stemmed Prince Tut papyrus adds grace and texture to a pot.
(C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
King Tut Egyptian papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) was a show stopper 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.
If there was a drawback, it was weak, 5-6 foot tall stems, which bent and broke in the wind or with handing.
Then, along came another papyrus Baby Tut umbrella grass (C. involucratus), which was a much more manageable 18-24 inches tall. Although considerable shorter than King Tut, the stems still were not very sturdy.
This year, Proven Winners sent me Prince Tut Egyptian papyrus to trial and I love it. At 30-48 inches tall, Prince Tut is between King and Baby. The foliage is light and airy and the stems are very strong. So far none has broken, even from the periodic strong winds we’ve had this summer.
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.
Cyperus papyrus is the plant that yields papyrus of ancient Egyptian times. They used the plant for lots of things from paper to boats and sandals to rope. Papyrus adapts well to wet areas. Prince Tut has gone dry a few times, but has not suffered one bit.
Besides its size, the form of this plant is an attribute, too. It is fuller than King or Baby Tuts. Like its kin, Prince Tut is very heat tolerant and does fine in full sun to part shade. It is not winter hardy here, so it never reaches the size to harvest for paper. We grow it as an annual. Look for Prince Tut next year in garden centers.
Sounds like the perfect cultivar.