Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Broadleaf Cattail (Typha latifolia) is a common native perennial herb that grows in northern, southern and central California. It is fast growing and moderately long-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 5 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are brown and bloom in the late spring. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow in marshes, at elevations from 0-5000 feet.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

1 - 5 ft Tall

Form

Upright

Growth rate

Fast

Dormancy

Winter Deciduous

Calscape icon
Color

Brown

Flowering season

Spring

Special uses

Water features or wet habitats

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Moderate, High

Ease of care

Moderate

Soil drainage

Fast, Standing

Soil description

Tolerates a variety of soils as long as it is kept constantly wet.

Propagation

For propagating by seed: 2 mos. stratification ( Emery and Frey 1971).

Site type

Marshes

Plant communities

Freshwater Marsh, Wetland-Riparian

Bats
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 7 likely

Confirmed Likely

Bactra maiorina

Cattail Border Moth

Bellura obliqua

Yellow Sedge Borer

Capsula subflava