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Reed Mace Wikimedia Commons
Typhaceae

Reed Mace

Typha latifolia

Adaptability and resourcefulness.

Family
Typhaceae
Genus
Typha
Native to
North America, Europe, Asia, Africa
Bloom season
Summer
Type
Aquatic perennial
Height
1.5-3 meters
Sunlight
Full sun
Soil
Wet, marshy
Water
Aquatic to waterlogged
Hardiness
3-10
Lifespan
Perennial

Did you know

  • Often mistakenly called 'cattail,' the brown cigar-shaped spike is actually a dense cluster of tiny flowers.
  • A single flower spike can produce up to 300,000 seeds that disperse on fluffy white down.
  • Nearly every part of the plant is edible at some stage of growth, earning it the nickname 'supermarket of the swamp.'
  • The fluffy seed heads were used historically as insulation, pillow stuffing, and wound dressings.
  • Reed mace is an excellent natural water purifier and is used in constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment.

Color meanings

0

Peace

1

Prosperity

2

Versatility

Uses

  • Edible
  • Water purification
  • Crafts
  • Thatching
  • Wildlife habitat