Five new combinations in Schoenoplectus (Rchb.) Palla (Cyperaceae) are proposed for taxa occurring in China. All these taxa previously had been placed in Scirpus L. s.l., which has been split into segregate genera in the recent literature. The following transfers are made for taxa originally described from China: Schoenoplectus chuanus (Tang & F. T. Wang) S. Yun Liang & S. R. Zhang, its type from Jiangsu; S. jingmenensis (Tang & F. T. Wang) S. Yun Liang & S. R. Zhang, from Hubei; S. monocephalus (J. Q. He) S. Yun Liang & S. R. Zhang, from Anhui; S. pseudoarticulatus (L. K. Dai & S. M. Huang) S. Yun Liang & S. R. Zhang, from Hainan; and S. supinus (L.) Palla subsp. densicorrugatus (Tang & F. T. Wang) S. Yun Liang & S. R. Zhang, from Xinjiang.