Xyris torta is a short-lived perennial that grows from a deeply rooted, chestnut-brown bulb. The yellow flowers typically bloom one or two at a time, so not very showy. The small blooms appear at the tip of the stem with many scale-like bracts that spiral around the head. A single flower will emerge from each bract. In the center of each flower is 3 erect, fertile, yellow stamens and 3 hairy, sterile stamens. The bracts will remain, forming a seed head that will expand as the fruit matures. It can be found growing in wetlands such as bogs, marshes, wet ditches and shores of rivers or lakes.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Frequent Standing Water | Moist | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 2 ft. 6 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect; Vase
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Other/more complex
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
This plant has strongly raised veins. They are narrow, often twisted leaves that look like blades of grass. The base of the leaf may appear red to pinkish.
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower shape
Bell; Cup
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Cylindric yellow flowers produced from compact brown head on top of wiry leafless stems. Few flowers open at any one time.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruit is an elliptic, translucent seed.
Stem detail
The flowering stems are erect. There may be single or multiple stems forming at the base. They are ribbed, spirally twisted and swollen. Near the base, it can nearly black.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Distribution
AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, NM MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV
Attracts
Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Naturalized Area; Near Septic; Riparian; Small Space