Narrow-leaf Cattail is both native and introduced species that grow in brackish and fresh water in marshes and wetlands, spreading by rhizomes and can quickly spread to take over an area. The 3-6 feet tall leaves are 1/4-1/2 inch wide and green. The green flower stem has a brown cylindrical tightly packed cluster of small flowers with female flowers distal and male flowers proximal. There is a space of about 1/2 to several inches between them. They are pollinated by the wind. They can be grown in 5-gallon buckets for a water garden to keep the spread under control. Cover with up to a foot of water in full sun to partial shade.
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 drainage
Frequent Standing Water | Occasional Flooding | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Tall narrow stiff green leaves arise from a vegetative shoot at the base of the plant. Venation is parallel and the base is sheathed. The outside of the leaf is convex while the inner is flat to slightly concave.
Flower color
Brown/Copper
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower size
> 6 inches
Flower detail
6-8 in. compact, cylindrical brown cattail composed of hundreds of minute flowers with staminate flowers above and pistillate flowers below. There is a dividing line between the two of 1/2 inch or more.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit detail
Female flowers followed by achenes
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Stout green smooth round stem
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North America, Europe, northern and central Asia, northern Afric
Distribution
Fresh or brackish marshes, shallow water of rivers, lakes, ponds
Wildlife value
Geese and muskrats prefer the stems and roots. Moose and elk eat fresh spring shoots. Shelter and nesting cover are provided for long-billed marsh wrens, redwing blackbirds, and yellow-headed blackbirds.
Play value
Wildlife Cover/Habitat; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Achene
Edibility
All parts are edible when gathered at the appropriate stage.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Native Americans used the plant for baskets, tule boats and bedding