Typha latifolia is a popular ornamental species of flowering plants in the Typhaceae family. Although these plants might seem very peculiar at first, they will win your heart with their overall easy-going nature for sure. If you are the lucky owner of a water garden, Common cattail plants are the perfect fit for every landscape decoration. Keep reading to find out more interesting facts about these charming and low-demanding plants!
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Typha latifolia, better known as broadleaf cattail, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the genus Typha. The T. latifolia genome was published in 2022.
Typha latifolia has many other names: broadleaf cattail, Bulrush, common bulrush, common cattail, cat-o’-nine-tails, great reedmace, cooper’s reed, cumbungi.
Typha latifolia grows 1.5 to 3 metres (5 to 10 feet) high and it has leaves 2–4 centimetres (3⁄4–1+1⁄2 inches) broad. It will generally grow from 0.75 to 1 m (2 to 3 ft) of water depth.
The plant is topped with a flower or fruit cluster in a cigar shape.
It is found as a native plant species in North and South America, Eurasia, and Africa. In Canada, broadleaf cattail occurs in all provinces and also in the Yukon and Northwest Territories, and in the United States, it is native to all states except Hawaii. It is an introduced and invasive species, and is considered a noxious weed in Australia and Hawaii. It has been reported in Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines. It is referred to as Soli-soli in the Philippines.
The species has been found in a variety of climates, including tropical, subtropical, southern and northern temperate, humid coastal, and dry continental. It is found at elevations from sea level to 2,300 meters (7,500 ft).
T. latifolia is an “obligate wetland” species, meaning that it is always found in or near water. The species generally grows in flooded areas where the water depth does not exceed 0.8 m (2+1⁄2 ft), but has also been reported growing in floating mats in slightly deeper water. It grows mostly in fresh water but also occurs in slightly brackish marshes. The species can displace other species native to salt marshes upon reduction in salinity. Under such conditions the plant may be considered aggressive since it interferes with preservation of the salt marsh habitat.
T. latifolia shares its range with other related species, and hybridizes with Typha angustifolia, narrow-leaf cattail, to form Typha × glauca (T. angustifolia × T. latifolia), white cattail. Common cattail is usually found in shallower water than narrow-leaf cattail.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Cattails need full sun or partial shade to thrive. They can’t survive in full shade.
Temperature and Humidity
Cattails are most commonly found in temperate regions of North America, but they can also grow in subtropical and elevated tropical regions. Although young shoots don’t cope with frost well, established cattails can handle harsh winters in their dormant state. These hardy plants will come back reliably year after year.
Watering
As you would expect from a marshland species, cattails need a lot of moisture to thrive, and this is the most vital element of their care. The soil should be kept wet, which is why they do best in areas where this happens naturally. These plants can thrive in standing water.
Soil
These plants benefit from rich, loamy soil that contains plenty of organic matter. They can, however, grow in most soil types.
Fertilizing
Fertilizing cattails isn’t generally required or recommended.
Pruning
It’s advisable to prune back cattail plants in bogs during the fall when their growth slows down. Cut the cattails with sharp pruning shears about 8 inches above the surface of the water they’re standing in, or down to the ground if they are not in standing water. New growth will appear in the spring.
Propagation
Cattails can self-seed freely and spread through their rhizomes. These rhizomes make it easy to propagate if you want to add a new cluster of plants to a different large landscape area. Young shoots can also be divided in the spring when they are between 5 and 10 inches tall. Here’s how to propagate cattails:
- Dig up the plants with a shovel, making sure a decent amount of undamaged root is attached.
- Divide the plants into manageable sections.
- Plant them in a new suitable wet location, near a pond or another location where they get flooded and stand up to 12 inches deep in water.
How to Grow from Seed
If growing cattails from seeds, they need a lot of water for successful germination. They should be sown on the surface of the soil and kept very moist, to the point of being soggy. Sowing them at the edge of a pond or other marshy area makes this process much easier for the home gardener. Here’s how to start cattail seeds indoors:
- Begin by soaking the seeds for 24 hours, then cleaning away the cottony debris that often surrounds them.
- Let the seeds dry, then press them on top of a two-inch container filled with a mixture of seed-starting compost and coarse sand.
- Cover them to a depth of 1/4 inch with compost. Cover the plants with a plastic dome and use a germination mat set to 100 degrees Fahrenheit to provide ample warmth.
- Water at least once a day with a spray bottle to ensure proper moisture. Germination takes about two weeks
- Transplant strong seedlings into the soil in early autumn, preferably right after rainfall so the soil is very moist.
Potting and Repotting
Choose a dwarf variety, like dwarf bulrush that only gets 2 feet tall, when growing in pots, which can be submerged in a water garden or pond. Plant a single plant in a sturdy, 1-gallon container, partially fill it with heavy, loamy clay soil, place the plant in a pot, and then fill it with just enough soil so that the crown is just above the top of the soil line. Mulch with gravel or small crushed stones before placing the pots in the water, which can be as deep as the rim of the pot. Check the plant in the spring to see if it’s root-bound and may need to be transferred to a larger pot.
Pests and Diseases
Common Pests
Cattails don’t face the typical insects that many other plants do. Instead, they are often eaten by creatures of much larger size, such as crayfish or muskrats. Because cattails are so prolific, animal grazing shouldn’t be an issue.
III. Uses and Benefits
Traditionally, the plant has been a part of certain indigenous cultures of British Columbia, as a source of food, medicine, and for other uses. The rhizomes are edible after cooking and removing the skin, while peeled stems and leaf bases can be eaten raw or cooked. The young flower spikes, young shoots, and sprouts at the end of the rootstocks are edible as well. The pollen from the mature cones can be used as a flavoring. The starchy rootstalks are ground into meal by Native Americans.
It is not advisable to eat specimens deriving from polluted water as it absorbs pollutants and in fact is used as a bioremediator. Specimens with a very bitter or spicy taste should not be eaten.
In Greece, the plant is used in a dried form for traditional chair making, namely in the woven seat of the chair. To prepare the material, the plant is collected in the summer and left to dry for 40–50 days.
In San Francisco, a town in the Pacijan Island of the Camotes Islands of Cebu, Philippines, the plant, known by the name Soli-soli, is used as a type of weaving fiber and/or material in making mats, bags, hats, and other organic accessories and ornaments. Soli-soli weaving is considered as one of the main livelihoods of the townspeople, showcasing the local crafts of the San Franciscohanons, as well as offering a viable outlet for cultural expression and eco-tourism.
The town even celebrates the overabundance of this plant in the island and the weaving industry through the Soli-soli Festival, a festival of thanksgiving dedicated to St. Joseph, the patron saint of the town. The festival is celebrated around the 19th of March, the solemnity of St. Joseph, the Spouse of Mary. The townspeople incorporate the plant in their festival costumes, oftentimes wearing outfits made completely from woven Soli-soli.
Find Where to Buy the Best Broadleaf Cattail (Typha latifolia)
[content-egg-block template=offers_logo_shipping cols_order=3,2,1,5,4 hide=badge visible=number border_color=info limit=8]