Narrowleaf Cattail

(Typha angustifolia)

Narrowleaf Cattail (Typha angustifolia)

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Estimated Native Range
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Summary

Typha angustifolia, commonly known as Narrowleaf Cattail, is a deciduous perennial herb that thrives in wetlands, including marshes, pond margins, and riverbanks in the Temperate Northern Hemisphere. It typically grows 3–6 feet tall, with flat, very narrow leaves that are ¼"–½" wide. The plant produces 12–16 leaves per vegetative shoot. Its distinctive brown, fluffy, sausage-shaped flowering heads emerge atop stalks that are roughly equal in height to the leaves, usually appearing in late spring to summer. The roots are rhizomatous, robust, and can extend up to 27 inches with a diameter of ¾"–1½".

Narrowleaf Cattail is valued for its ability to stabilize soil and provide habitat for wildlife. It is often used in constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment and in riparian plantings to prevent erosion. In ornamental water gardens, it adds vertical structure and texture. This plant requires abundant water and can grow in full sun to part shade. It is adaptable to a range of soil drainage conditions, from fast to slow. However, caution is advised as it can be potentially invasive outside its native range, and its aggressive growth can dominate aquatic ecosystems, displacing native vegetation.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Herb
  • Height: 3-7 feet
  • Width: 3-5 feet
  • Growth Rate: Rapid
  • Flower Color: N/A
  • Flowering Season: Summer, Spring
  • Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: High
  • Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Bird Garden, Erosion Control, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Salt Tolerant, Water Garden

Natural Habitat

Wetlands, including marshes, pond margins, and riverbanks in the Temperate Northern Hemisphere

Other Names

Common Names: Lesser Bulrush , Narrow-Leaf Cat-Tail , Narrow-Leaf Cattail , Nailrod , Nail-Rod , Cattail , Lesser Reed-Mace , Lesser-Bulrush , Small Reed-Mace , Smalbladet Dunhammer

Scientific Names: Typha angustifolia , Typha gracilis , Typha glauca , Typha angustifolia var. elatior , Typha foveolata , Typha angustifolia var. calumetensis , Massula angustifolia , Typha angustifolia f. foveolata , Typha angustifolia f. submersa , Typha angustifolia subsp. calumetensis

GBIF Accepted Name: Typha angustifolia L.