Yellow to green in color and have a distinctly shiny appearance. Leaves are 5 to 8 mm wide and have a distinct ridge along the midvein. Leaves are produced in groups of 3 from the base of the plant. The leaves of yellow nutsedge taper gradually to a sharp point. Erect, unbranched, and 3-sided and triangular in cross section.
Stems are usually solitary and produce terminal spikelets.
Rhizomes and tubers occur on the same plants. Tubers are round, ridged, initially white in color, eventually turning brown or black, and are sweet to the taste. Yellow nutsedge produces solitary tubers that arise either from the basal bulb or from a rhizome. Several tubers do not arise along the entire rhizome, as in purple nutsedge. Individual spikelets are yellow to brown in color.