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AquaPlantA Diagnostics Tool for Pond Plants and Algae
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Southern Cattail

Typha domingensis

Southern Cattail Locations in North America
Southern Cattail Locations in Southeast US



What is Southern Cattail?

Physical Characteristics

  • Slender

Leaves:

  • 6-10 leaves
  • Usually flat
  • Yellowish-green
  • Firm
  • Leather texture
  • 0.28-0.59 inches wide
  • Usually shorter than the flower

Flowers:

  • Spike 0.75-1.25 feet long
  • Female & male sections of flower separated by about 2.36 inches
  • Whitish-brown in color

Stem:

  • Up to about 9 feet tall
  • White base

Where Does it Grow?

Southern cattail can be found in brackish or fresh marshes and pools.

Pros and Cons of Southern Cattail

The rhizomes and lower leaf portions of cattails are consumed by nutria, muskrats, and geese. Submerged portions of all aquatic plants provide habitats for many micro and macro invertebrates. These invertebrates in turn are used as food by fish and other wildlife species (e.g. ducks). After aquatic plants die, their decomposition by bacteria and fungi provides food (called “detritus”) for many aquatic invertebrates.

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Photo Credits: The majority of the aquatic plant line drawings are the copyright of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). They are used with permission.

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

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