Nonnative Cattails
Typha species
Washington State Classification
Class C — Widespread, County-Selected Control
Nonnative, invasive cattail species are capable of displacing native plants, changing the genetic profile of native cattail stands, altering marsh habitat, and invading managed aquatic systems.
Quick Reference
Identification
Growth Habit
Cattail species and hybrids are perennials that grow in fresh to slightly brackish wetlands, often emergent in water up to 1.5 meters deep. Stems are either vegetative or produce flowers. Differences in a number of characteristics can help tell species and hybrids apart.
Leaves
Leaves are alternately arranged, 2-ranked, sheathing, linear and rather spongy. Leaf blades twist into a loose helix. Leaves have mucilage-secreting glands that are numerous on inside surface of the leaf sheath and sometimes proximally (near the base) on the leaf blade. The glands are colorless to brown and roughly rectangular.
Flowers
Cattail inflorescences are cylindrical spikes of small monoecious flowers, with male (staminate) flowers occurring above the female (pistillate) flowers, all directly on the main axis and intermixed with slender hairs. Size of the spike can vary depending on species.
Fruit & Seeds
Fruits are small follicles, football-shaped, splitting longitudinally in water to release the seed. Seed counts per spike have been estimated ranging from 20,000 to 700,000.
Impact
Nonnative, invasive cattail species are capable of displacing native plants, changing the genetic profile of native cattail stands, altering marsh habitat, and invading managed aquatic systems. These nonnative cattails have been documented for invasiveness in many parts of the country and currently have a limited distribution in Washington, although recorded occurrences are increasing.
Ecology & Spread
Habitat
Nonnative cattail species and hybrids grow in wet or saturated soils and aquatic sediments in marshes, wet meadows, lakeshores, pond margins, seacoast estuaries, ditches, bogs and fens. They can invade managed and recreation aquatic systems including canals, ditches, reservoirs, cultivated fields, farm ponds and swimming and boating areas. Click here to see a could level distribution map of nonnative cattail species in Washington.
Spread Mechanisms
Reproduction
Plants can spread by rhizomatous growth and by seed (except for Typha x glauca, which doesn't produce viable seed). Plants are wind pollinated and seeds are dispersed by wind, water, soil movement, human activities and by clinging with mud to the feet and fur of people and animals.
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Control Methods
Mechanical
- Mowing, burning, tilling and flooding have been used in combinations to control nonnative cattail species and hybrids. Repeated cutting can be used for control as well. Cutting stems so remaining stems are submersed by water can provide effective control. Please see our written findings for more information.
Biological Control
- Deer may eat the tops of succulent cattail seedlings less than 18 inches tall and the basal portions of resprouts less than 3 feet tall. There are no approved biological controls for nonnative cattail species or hybrids.