Narrowleaf Cattail
Typha angustifolia
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Prince Edward I., Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
W. Bulach
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Typhaceae
- Genus:
- Typha
- Species:
- Typha angustifolia
- USDA Symbol:
- TYAN
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- brown
- Food Forest:
- Contains edible parts
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Bellura brehmei, oblong wainscot (Archanara oblonga)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, waterfowl, muskrats, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from rhizomes after fire. Prescribed burns are used to manage dense stands.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, waterlogged, organic soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found in marshes and wetlands
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination and wet soil conditions. Germination is rapid in warm, saturated substrates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Single-step cold-moist stratification for temperate woodland species. for 60–120 days
Source: Claude AI