Quick answer: Broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia) is native to 39 states. What's commonly sold under this name is the true wild species. It's typically seeds, verified 16 Sep 2026.
Photo: Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors from Stevenage, United Kingdom, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Where it's native
Listed in the directory as native to these states. Click a state for its full native-plant guide.
Growing conditions
From the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database.
| Sun | Sun, Part Shade |
|---|---|
| Water | High, Wet |
| Soil | Rich, wet, mud, saline-tolerant |
| Bloom | Apr-Jun |
| Height | 7-10 ft |
| Wildlife value | Nesting sites for red-winged blackbirds/ducks/geese/fish, shoots/roots eaten by nutria/muskrats/beavers |
Tendency to take over wetlands; aggressive, requires management like a weed; recommended for containers to control spread
Buying it
Sold true to the wild species as of the last check (16 Sep 2026), via Amazon.
Sold as: Seeds via Amazon · listing verified 16 Sep 2026
See where to buy →Quick answers about Broadleaf cattail
Where is Broadleaf cattail native?
Broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia) is native to 39 states across the Northeast, Midwest, South and West. Check your state's page in this directory for the full list of plants native where you live.
When does Broadleaf cattail bloom?
Broadleaf cattail blooms Apr-Jun. Exact timing shifts a few weeks with latitude and elevation.
What growing conditions does Broadleaf cattail need?
Light: Sun, Part Shade. Water: High, Wet. Soil: Rich, wet, mud, saline-tolerant. Mature height: 7-10 ft.
Is Broadleaf cattail good for pollinators and wildlife?
Yes. Wildlife value: Nesting sites for red-winged blackbirds/ducks/geese/fish, shoots/roots eaten by nutria/muskrats/beavers.
Is Broadleaf cattail deer-resistant or drought-tolerant?
Broadleaf cattail is handles wet soil.
Where can I buy real Broadleaf cattail seed or plants?
We found a listing sold as seeds that names the true species, last checked 16 Sep 2026. Look for the scientific name Typha latifolia on any listing.
Similar native plants
Native plants that share growing conditions or range with Broadleaf cattail.
- Swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata
- Common ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
- Common elderberry Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis
- Common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
- Blue vervain Verbena hastata
- Jack-in-the-pulpit Arisaema triphyllum
Also listed under
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