What hardiness zones is Typha angustifolia suitable for?

Typha angustifolia is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

What are the sun requirements for Typha angustifolia?

Typha angustifolia requires Full Sun.

How much water does Typha angustifolia need?

Typha angustifolia has High water needs.

Herbaceous

Typha angustifolia

slender-leaved cattail

Typhaceae

Europe (native there; invasive status debated in North America — likely both native and introduced genotypes)

At a Glance

TypePerennial

HabitUpright

FoliageDeciduous

Height48-96 inches (120-240 cm)

Width24-48 inches (60-120 cm)

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

2 - 10

Zone 2

Zone 3

Zone 4

Zone 5

Zone 6

Zone 7

Zone 8

Zone 9

Zone 10

These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.

Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Deer Resistant

Maintenancehigh

Overview

Typha angustifolia is a robust, rhizomatous, emergent aquatic perennial in the cattail family (Typhaceae) reaching 48–96 inches (120–240 cm) tall with a 24–48 inch (60–120 cm) spread, forming dense monoculture stands in marshes, ditches, and pond margins. Leaves are erect, narrow, linear, 0.2–0.4 inch (5–10 mm) wide (versus 0.4–1 inch / 10–25 mm in T. latifolia), gray-green, with a distinctive D-shaped cross-section (convex on the back, flat on the inner face). The inflorescence is the diagnostic feature: a terminal spike with a brown, cylindrical female (pistillate) portion 2–6 inches (5–15 cm) long and a narrower, yellowish male (staminate) portion above, separated by a gap of 0.5–4 inches (1–10 cm) of bare stem — the gap is the primary distinction from T. latifolia, in which the male and female portions are contiguous. A single female spike produces 100,000–700,000 seeds, each with a tuft of fine hairs enabling wind and water dispersal. Rhizomes are thick, starchy, spreading laterally to form dense stands. Hybridizes readily with T. latifolia to produce T. x glauca, which is often more aggressive than either parent. Tolerates deeper water than T. latifolia.

Native Range

Native range debated; likely native to Europe with some native North American populations, but also introduced genotypes present. Occurs in marshes, ditches, pond margins, roadside swales, and constructed wetlands from sea level to approximately 6,000 feet (1,800 m). In the Pacific Northwest, increasingly common in disturbed wetlands, ditches, and constructed stormwater facilities. Tolerates brackish and polluted water.

Suggested Uses

Used in wetland identification for the gap-versus-no-gap cattail comparison: T. angustifolia (gap between male and female spikes, narrow leaves) versus T. latifolia (contiguous spikes, broad leaves) versus hybrid T. x glauca (intermediate). The massive seed output (up to 700,000 per spike) is a primary teaching example in reproductive allocation. The rhizome starch, young shoot edibility, and fiber use are taught in ethnobotany. Used in constructed wetlands for phytoremediation of nutrient-rich and polluted water.

How to Identify

Distinguished from Typha latifolia (common cattail) by the narrower leaves (0.2–0.4 inch / 5–10 mm versus 0.4–1 inch / 10–25 mm), and the gap of bare stem between the male and female spike portions (versus no gap, with male and female portions contiguous). The gap is visible from a distance using binoculars. The D-shaped leaf cross-section (versus flat in T. latifolia) is confirmed by cutting a leaf and viewing the cross-section. The hybrid T. x glauca shows intermediate characters, including a narrow gap.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4' - 8'

Width/Spread2' - 4'

Colors

Flower Colors

brown

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

gray

Fall Foliage Colors

yellow

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Summer

Flowers from June through August. Male spikes release pollen first (protandry), then wither. Female spikes mature over 4–6 weeks, turning dark brown. Seeds disperse from late fall through winter as the spike disintegrates. A single spike releases 100,000–700,000 seeds. In the Pacific Northwest, the brown female spikes are visible from July through the following spring.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Brown (female spike), yellow (male spike)

Foliage Description

Gray-green to dark green, narrow, linear, erect, 0.2-0.4 inch (5-10 mm) wide; D-shaped in cross-section (convex on one side, flat on the other)

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 8.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

siltclaypeat

Drainage

wet

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Management in wetland settings is difficult due to the extensive rhizome system and aquatic habitat. Cutting stems below the water surface during the growing season drowns the rhizomes by preventing oxygen exchange — this is the most effective non-chemical method. Repeated cutting (3–4 times per season for 2–3 years) depletes rhizome reserves. In constructed wetlands, cattails provide water quality benefits (nutrient uptake, sediment stabilization) but form monocultures that reduce plant diversity. Thinning by rhizome removal maintains diversity. The hybrid T. x glauca is often more aggressive than either parent species.

Pruning

No pruning applicable in a weed context. Stems are cut below the water surface during the growing season to drown the rhizomes. In managed wetlands, annual thinning of the rhizome margin prevents monoculture formation.

Maintenance Level

high

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic