The Common Cattail is a grass-like native plant to North Carolina. In nature, it can be found in the fresh waters of ponds, lakes, and marshes, including tidal freshwater marshes and slightly brackish marshes. Cattails tolerate perennial flooding, reduced soil conditions and moderate salinity. With influxes of nutrients or freshwater, cattails are aggressive invaders in both brackish salt marshes and freshwater wetlands. Grow in containers to control the spread in smaller ponds or water gardens and cover with up to 30 inches of water. They prefer full sun to partial shade. It does have some drought tolerance as long as the soil doesn't dry out. Male flowers appear above the female flowers on each stalk. The female has long hairs that catch pollen. After pollination, the male portion of the stalk disintegrates and you are left with the cattail portion. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Can become invasive.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Frequent Standing Water | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Texture
Coarse
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Sword-like flat, gray-green, leaves with parallel veins arise from the plant base. Leaves turn bright yellow in fall. Can grow 5-8 feet tall and 3/4 to 1.5 inches wide.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Good Cut; Good Dried; Showy
Flower detail
Cylindrical flower in mid to late summer; good fresh or dried in arrangements. In North Carolina, flowers are available from May to July. Female flowers appear below the male flowers on the stalk.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Follicle
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit detail
Fruits are brown in color. In North Carolina, fruits are available from June to November.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Tall, erect, and unbranched with underground stems (rhizomes).
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
N. & S. America, Europe, Eurasia and Africa
Distribution
Marshes and wetlands
Wildlife value
Birds use the cattail as nesting material. Rhizomes are a food source for small mammals.
Parts of the plant are edible if picked at the appropriate time. Young shoots are picked at 4 to 16 inches long and can be eaten raw, cooked or pickled. The pollen can be used as flour. The rhizomes can be eaten raw, baked, roasted, or broiled.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Many uses including food, medicine, thatching, and glue/cement.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Container; Naturalized Area; Pond
Landscape theme
Edible Garden; Native Garden; Rain Garden; Water Garden
Design feature
Mass Planting; Small groups
Garden tags
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