You can easily recognize a cattail; it has a brown cigar-shaped head that stands atop a very long, stout stalk. Young shoots first emerge in spring and once fertilized, the female flowers transform into the familiar brown “cigars” also called candlewicks that consist of thousands of tiny developing seeds.
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How do you identify cattails?
You can easily recognize a cattail; it has a brown cigar-shaped head that stands atop a very long, stout stalk. Young shoots first emerge in spring and once fertilized, the female flowers transform into the familiar brown “cigars” also called candlewicks that consist of thousands of tiny developing seeds.

What is the scientific name for the narrow leaf cattail?
Typha angustifoliaNarrowleaf cattail / Scientific name
How do you identify Typha?
Identification. Narrow-leaved Cattail (Typha angustifolia): Dark green, sword-like leaves 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide. Female flowers form a spike 4 to 8 inches long and 1/2 to 1 inch wide that turns brown and fuzzy in the fall and looks like a hotdog on a stick.

How do you control a narrow-leaf cattail?
Chemical – The most effective herbicides are those that can be readily translocated to the rhizomes of the plant. Glyphosate, or Rodeo, applied in mid- to late-summer can effectively reduce narrow-leaved cattail infestations. Contact your local county extension agent for recommended use rates, locations, and timing.
Are cattails native to MN?
Narrow-leaf cattail is an unlisted non-native species. These species have no restrictions on sale, purchase, or possession, but they may not be introduced into a free-living state without MN DNR approval and thorough evaluation.
What plants look like cattails?
Irises Leaves Are Cattail-like Two species of irises look similar to cattails. Blue flag (Iris versicolor), like cattails, grows near bogs and ponds and is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. Yellow flag (I. pseudacorus) resembles young cattails and grows in moist areas in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9.
How do you control a narrow leaf cattail?
Where is the narrow leaf cattail native to?
Although native to North America, it is introduced to New England, where it has become widespread and often out-competes native marsh species to form dense monocultures. Narrow-leaved cattail is most frequently found along the coastal plain in salt and brackish marshes, as well as in ditches along heavily-salted roads.
How wide are the leaves on narrow leaf cattails?
Narrow-leaved cattail is an erect, rhizomatous perennial aquatic herb that can range in height from 3 to 10 feet. Leaves of the plant are long, linear, parallel-veined, strongly planoconvex, 1/8 to 1/3 of an inch wide, and deep green in color.
How do you forage cattails?
To collect the shoots, grab the inner part of the plant down low and pull. It should come up fairly easily. Cattail shoots are one foraging item that I tend to have at it with. You really don’t need to worry about collecting too much.