What kind of light does Typha latifolia need?

Typha latifolia grows best in full sun, though it can tolerate some shading from nearby vegetation along pond and marsh edges.

How much water does Typha latifolia require?

This plant needs consistently wet to saturated soil and often grows standing in shallow water, making it suited to marshes, ditches, and pond margins.

When does Typha latifolia bloom?

Typha latifolia typically flowers from June through August, producing its characteristic dense brown flower spikes.

What pollinates Typha latifolia?

Bees, beetles, and flies visit the flower spikes of Typha latifolia, though the plant also relies heavily on wind for pollen dispersal.

Is Typha latifolia evergreen or deciduous?

Typha latifolia is deciduous, with its long strap-like leaves dying back to the rhizome each winter and regrowing in spring.

Is Cooper's-reed toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Cooper's-reed as toxic to livestock.

Is Cooper's-reed HOA-friendly?

Cooper's-reed takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Cooper's-reed

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Typha latifolia

Last reviewed: September 2026

Typha latifolia, common cattail, grows in marshes and pond edges across the U.S., forming dense stands in full sun and blooming June through August.

Toxicity unknown

Cooper's-reed (Typha latifolia) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Cooper's-reed as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

high

Size

36"–120" H × 12"–36" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

AL, AR, AZ, CA and 44 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles, flies

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast Range Puget Lowland Marine West Coast Forest Northwestern Forested Mountains Sierra Nevada Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains Central California Valley Southern California Mountains North American Deserts Central Basin and Range Mojave Basin and Range Southern Rockies Arizona/New Mexico Mountains High Plains Southwestern Tablelands Central Great Plains Great Plains Cross Timbers Edwards Plateau Texas Blackland Prairies East Central Texas Plains Western Gulf Coastal Plain South Central Plains Eastern Temperate Forests Ozark Highlands Central Irregular Plains Northwestern Glaciated Plains Northwestern Great Plains Piedmont Northern Glaciated Plains Western Corn Belt Plains Northern Forests Northern Lakes and Forests North Central Hardwood Forests Driftless Area Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains Central Corn Belt Plains Eastern Corn Belt Plains Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains Huron/Erie Lake Plains Northeastern Highlands Northeastern Coastal Zone Northern Allegheny Plateau Erie Drift Plain Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Piedmont Southeastern Plains Blue Ridge Ridge and Valley Central Appalachians Western Allegheny Plateau Interior Plateau Interior River Valleys and Hills Mississippi Alluvial Plain Mississippi Valley Loess Plains Southern Coastal Plain Southern Florida Coastal Plain Sonoran Basin and Range Acadian Plains and Hills Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens Southern California/Northern Baja Coast

Typha latifolia is a tall wetland plant that grows in dense colonies and produces the characteristic brown, sausage-shaped flower spikes commonly called cattails. This species requires consistently moist to wet soil conditions and can spread aggressively through underground rhizomes. It's best suited for water gardens, rain gardens, or naturally wet areas of the landscape.

Growing Cooper's-reed

Grow Cooper's-reed in full sun and high water. Mature plants reach 36 to 120 inches tall and spread 12 to 36 inches wide. Expect high maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Cooper's-reed takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Spreads aggressively and can become invasive
Very tall and informal appearance
Requires wet conditions not typical in maintained landscapes

Wildlife value

The flowers attract bees, beetles, and flies during summer blooming. The dense stands provide nesting habitat for birds and the seeds feed waterfowl and other wildlife.

Common questions

What kind of light does Typha latifolia need?: Typha latifolia grows best in full sun, though it can tolerate some shading from nearby vegetation along pond and marsh edges.
How much water does Typha latifolia require?: This plant needs consistently wet to saturated soil and often grows standing in shallow water, making it suited to marshes, ditches, and pond margins.
When does Typha latifolia bloom?: Typha latifolia typically flowers from June through August, producing its characteristic dense brown flower spikes.
What pollinates Typha latifolia?: Bees, beetles, and flies visit the flower spikes of Typha latifolia, though the plant also relies heavily on wind for pollen dispersal.
Is Typha latifolia evergreen or deciduous?: Typha latifolia is deciduous, with its long strap-like leaves dying back to the rhizome each winter and regrowing in spring.
Is Cooper's-reed toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Cooper's-reed as toxic to livestock.
Is Cooper's-reed HOA-friendly?: Cooper's-reed takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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