Common Cattail Typha latifolia
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- TY-fuh lat-ih-FOH-lee-ah
- Description
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The Common Cattail is a grass-like native plant to North Carolina. In nature, it can be found in the fresh waters of ponds, lakes, and marshes, including tidal freshwater marshes and slightly brackish marshes. Cattails tolerate perennial flooding, reduced soil conditions and moderate salinity. With influxes of nutrients or freshwater, cattails are aggressive invaders in both brackish salt marshes and freshwater wetlands.
Grow in containers to control the spread in smaller ponds or water gardens and cover with up to 30 inches of water. They prefer full sun to partial shade. It does have some drought tolerance as long as the soil doesn't dry out.
Male flowers appear above the female flowers on each stalk. The female has long hairs that catch pollen. After pollination, the male portion of the stalk disintegrates and you are left with the cattail portion.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Can become invasive.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Variegata
- Variegata
- Variegata
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Variegata
- Variegata
- Variegata
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Typha
- Species:
- latifolia
- Family:
- Typhaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Many uses including food, medicine, thatching, and glue/cement.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- N. & S. America, Europe, Eurasia and Africa
- Distribution:
- Marshes and wetlands
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds use the cattail as nesting material. Rhizomes are a food source for small mammals.
- Play Value:
- Textural
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Nesting
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heat tolerant. Somewhat resistant to drought.
- Edibility:
- Parts of the plant are edible if picked at the appropriate time. Young shoots are picked at 4 to 16 inches long and can be eaten raw, cooked or pickled. The pollen can be used as flour. The rhizomes can be eaten raw, baked, roasted, or broiled.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Water Plant
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are brown in color. In North Carolina, fruits are available from June to November.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Cylindrical flower in mid to late summer; good fresh or dried in arrangements. In North Carolina, flowers are available from May to July. Female flowers appear below the male flowers on the stalk.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Sword-like flat, gray-green, leaves with parallel veins arise from the plant base. Leaves turn bright yellow in fall. Can grow 5-8 feet tall and 3/4 to 1.5 inches wide.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Tall, erect, and unbranched with underground stems (rhizomes).
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Poor Soil
- Salt
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
