Southern Cattail (Typha domingensis)

Family: Typhaceae | Edibility: Choice Edible (4/5)

Typha domingensis is a PERENNIAL growing to 3 m (9ft 10in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Leaves, Shoots, Roots/Tubers, Flowers, Pollen

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

sweet flavour. — Rhizomes - raw or cooked.; Rich in starch, around 30 - 46%, they can be boiled and eaten like potatoes or macerated and then boiled to yield a sweet syrup.; The rhizome can also be dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc or added to cereal flours.; Rich in protein, this flour is used to make biscuits, bread, cakes etc.

Habitat & North American Range

Brackish to fresh marshes and pools in N. America at elevations from sea level to 2000 metres. (Zone 5)