Carex typhina, commonly known as Cattail Sedge, is a deciduous perennial sedge native to wet meadows, marshes, and stream banks in the Eastern United States and Ontario. It typically grows to a height of 1-3 feet (0.3-0.9 meters) and a width of up to 1 foot (0.3 meters). This sedge is characterized by its grass-like appearance with dense, cattail-like flowering spikes that appear in late spring to early summer. The flowers are not particularly showy, but the seed heads add textural interest to the landscape during the summer and into fall.

Cattail Sedge is valued for its ability to thrive in wet conditions, making it an excellent choice for rain gardens, water features, and naturalized areas where it can help stabilize soil and filter runoff. It is also used for erosion control along waterways. In cultivation, it requires consistent moisture and can tolerate standing water, making it suitable for very wet sites. It prefers full sun to part shade and can adapt to a range of soil types, provided they are wet. While generally low-maintenance, it can spread vigorously in ideal conditions and may need to be managed to prevent unwanted naturalization.CC BY-SA 4.0