Typha latifolia

Common Names

Broadleaf Cattail, Cattail, Common Cattail, Bulrush, Bullrush, Great Reedmace, Reedmace, Cat Tail, Cat's Tail, Cat-O'-Nine-Tails, Cooper's Reed, Soft-Flag, Nailrod, Water Torch, Asparagus of the Cossacks

Summary

Broadleaf cattail is a native, rhizomatous perennial occurring in wetlands across North America, Europe, and Asia, typically forming tall, dense clumps with stout upright stems and long, strap-shaped green leaves, reaching about 4–7 ft tall. It bears cylindrical brown flower spikes in summer, with male flowers at the top and female beneath, creating the distinctive cat-tail inflorescence, and seeds are numerous and wind-dispersed while foliage turns golden brown in autumn. It prefers full sun to light shade and consistently moist or waterlogged soils, growing in shallow water up to about 12 inches deep, tolerating wet clay or loam; hardy in USDA zones 3–10. Broadleaf cattail spreads readily via rhizomes and seeds, requiring containment in bottomless containers to restrain spread. Propagation by division in spring or by seed; provides wildlife habitat, including cover for red-winged blackbirds and muskrats, and is used for water purification and bioremediation, as well as in ponds, water gardens, bog gardens, and restoration projects.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

5-10 feet

Spread

48-84 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun; tolerates Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Loamy soil that stays consistently wet or waterlogged and is nutrient-rich

Soil Drainage

Moist to wet soils, waterlogged or consistently wet.

Soil pH

No single ideal; tolerates a wide range from about 5.5 to 7.5

Bloom Color

Brown

Bloom Time

Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow to golden brown

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds, no indication of attraction for bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, or other pollinators