Cattail is an aggressive native herbaceous perennial with upright sword-like green foliage and stiff central stalk with a packed cylindrical inflorescence with male flowers at the top and the female flowers at the end which blooms in summer. Male flowers quickly disperse after bloom leaving naked stalk tips, while female flowers mature to the familiar brown sausage-like fruiting tip. Foliage turns yellow-brown in fall while fruiting spikes hold until winter. Grows best with full sun and wet soils. Aggressive self-seeder.
Type: |
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Origins: |
Americas, Western Eurasia, Africa |
Height: |
4'-6' |
Spread: |
4’-6' |
Spacing: |
4' |
USDA Hardiness Zone: |
3-10 |
Culture: |
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Bloom Color: |
Yellow (male), Green (female) |
Season of Interest: |
MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low Maintenance. Will self-seed and crowd out other marginal plants if not contained. Best to plant in containers.
LANDSCAPE USES: Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Naturalized Areas, Ponds and Streams, Water Gardens, and Containers.
COMPANION PLANTS: False Indigo, Swamp Milkweed, Sand Cordgrass
Image: Le.Loup.Gris, Typha latifolia (habitus) 2, CC BY-SA 3.0