Green Kylinga

Green Kyllinga is a warm-season perennial sedge that forms dense mats in turfgrass and landscape areas. Often mistaken for a grass, it thrives in moist, sunny environments and can quickly overtake lawns, especially those with poor drainage or frequent irrigation. Its ability to spread through rhizomes makes it difficult to control once established.

How to Identify

Green Kyllinga has fine, shiny, bright green leaves that form low-growing tufts or mats. The leaves are narrow and folded along the midrib, growing from a triangular stem typical of sedges. It produces small, round, green seed heads (about the size of a pencil eraser) on top of slender stalks that rise slightly above the leaf canopy. When mowed, these seed heads are often visible as tiny green dots across the lawn.

Lifecycle

Green Kyllinga is a warm-season perennial sedge that spreads aggressively through underground rhizomes. It actively grows during late spring and summer and may persist year-round in frost-free climates. In cooler regions, it goes dormant in winter but rapidly regrows once temperatures rise.

Prevention & Control

Because Green Kyllinga is a sedge—not a grass—it requires selective sedge herbicides containing active ingredients such as halosulfuron or sulfentrazone. Reducing soil moisture, improving drainage, and avoiding over-irrigation are critical cultural controls. Consistent management is necessary, as rhizomes can regenerate even after herbicide treatment.