Broadleaf Cattail
Typha latifolia
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, Djibouti, DR Congo, East Aegean Is., Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krym, Kuril Is., Lebanon-Syria, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Palestine, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Prince Edward I., Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United States, Uzbekistan
Ermell
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Typhaceae
- Genus:
- Typha
- Species:
- Typha latifolia
- USDA Symbol:
- TYLA
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 300 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade
- 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
, Bactra maiorina, Cattail Borer Moth (Bellura obliqua), Densa Bellura (Bellura densa), Dicymolomia julianalis, false wainscot (Leucania pseudargyria), Obliquebanded leafroller (Choristoneura rosaceana), oblong wainscot (Archanara oblonga), Phragmites veneer (Limnaecia phragmitella), Potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella), Simyra henrici, Smeared Dagger Moth (Acronicta oblinita)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Moths:Acronicta insularis
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. Fire can help control dense stands and stimulate new growth.
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, ponds, and wetlands.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light and consistently wet or flooded conditions to germinate. Best sown on the surface of saturated soil.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds require light for germination
Source: npn.rngr.net