Reedmace (Greater bulrush)

Typha latifolia

Tall emergent aquatic with long strap leaves and the unmistakable brown cigar-shaped seed heads. A keystone plant of freshwater wetlands.

Hardiness ratings

Reedmace (Greater bulrush) hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 2–9 −45.6 °C to −1.1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H7 down to −20 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 2–8 −40 °C to −1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 1–7 −15 °C and warmer Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Provides cover for fish and amphibians and key nesting habitat and material for water birds
  • Edible shoots, pollen and rhizomes — historically a staple wetland food plant
  • Often confused with the unrelated Schoenoplectus bulrush — Typha is the species with the brown cigar-shaped seed heads
  • Vigorous spreader — for small ponds choose lesser bulrush (T. minima) instead

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Reedmace (Greater bulrush) against your zones

Reference

Reedmace (Greater bulrush) on Wikipedia