PlantFiles: Broadleaf Cattail, Bulrush, Cossack Asparagus, Flags, Reed Mace
Typha latifolia

For years I have been admiring the large, yet sparse
community of Catttail in our creek and makeshift natural
pond setting by the side of the house.

Yesterday it occurred to me that it would perform so much
better closer to the house where it could be watered, as
the creek tends to dry up. It would be my opinion that our
catttail has barely survived each season.

Now living in our faux pond, it seems much happier. I can't
wait for the tails to come.

This is a wonderful native plant. Most of it edible at some time. Young shoots can be cooked like asparagus, the pollen can be used as flour, and starch can be removed from the roots and used as flour.

a native to So. Oregon. You can find them growing almost everywhere ... ditches, ponds, etc.

I said neutral because of the invasiveness of these plants. If it weren't for that, they'd be perfect in any water garden! I have them growing in my creek (they're native to Texas). They are beautiful and graceful blowing in the breezes. Their seed heads are a nice touch to the fall and winter landscape, opening up and sending their puffy clumps of seeds blowing around.

These plants are excellent in a pond.They spread very fast and animals love them. They are perfect for a naturalized pond. If you want one in a container pond (barrel) plant it in a pot. Parts of the Cat Tail are edible. Check to make sure of the species before you sample it,lol. The leaves also make great material for basket weaving and floor mats.

Cattails have stiff, unbranched stems and long, erect, swordlike leaves with parallel veins. They stand 3-9' tall and are connected underground by rhizomes. The stems are topped by dense cylindrical spikes of tiny brown flowers that look like sausages or cat's tails. Common cattail gets up to 9' tall and the upper, male or pollen bearing flower spike is joined to the lower, female part. Cattails are best suited for use in large pools. They will spread if not contained by pond liners or deep water.The rhizomes may puncture thin pond liners. Cattails provide excellent wildlife habitat.