Typha latifolia |
Origin: Pacific Northwest
Zone Range: 3-9
Preferred Situation: Full to semi sun; moist sites to shallow wetlands.
Harvest Date: Monday 02 October, 2006
Description:
A bold aquatic icon in our coastal wetlands. Growing from fleshy rhizomes, wide flat leaves emerge in spring followed by the flowering stems with the male portion on the upper most of the spike and the cigar shaped brown felty female flower portion immediately below. Can grow to 2 meters or more in height. In October, millions of tiny seeds are released when the white down expands and blows away in the wind.
Notes:
Truely a valuable plant with so many uses. Colonies of cattails provide critical wildlife habitat for a wide range of creatures from amphibians to aquatic mammals. Edible rhizomes and spent leaves stabilize damp soils for land reclaimation. Reeds are suitable for weaving and caning. First Nations utilized all portions of this plant. Yet, graceful enough for a koi pond.
Cultivation:
The best method for germinating Typha is the "bog method" where the seeded pot is placed into a 3 cm deep saucer of water. Through capillary action, the surface should stay moist using this method. Your pot could be too big or saucer too small if the surface doesn't stay moist. Its important that the seed does not dry out as it needs anaerobic conditions to germinate. Avoid watering from above. Use silty compost as a medium. Kept moist until germination occurs. Sow thinly. Press seed into moist medium surface. Provide some light. Plastic cover improves success. Break dormancy by exposing sown moist seed to 20 C for 14-30 days then 2 C for 4-6 weeks then expose to spring like conditions (5-10 C) for germination in 14-30 days. Transplant to final position when soil moisture is high.
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