Northern Wildrice

Zizania palustris

Native to:
Canada, Mexico, Prince Edward I., United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Poaceae
Genus:
Zizania
Species:
Zizania palustris
USDA Symbol:
ZIPA3

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Annual
Growth Habit:
Graminoid
Height:
300 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
jun,jul,aug,sep

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
waterfowl, birds, muskrats, fish
Fall Color:
yellow

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, organic, waterlogged soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
Commonly found in shallow freshwater marshes and lakes.

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 90–120 days
Germination Time:
14–30 days
Notes:
Seeds must remain continuously moist or submerged; they lose viability rapidly if allowed to dry. Best sown directly in shallow water in fall.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI

Pre-treatment: Seeds were cold stratified for 180 days

Source: npn.rngr.net