Compare California Cattails (Typha)
by Bruce Homer-Smith

There are three primary species of Cattail in California. They all have a double spike of flowers – male flowers above and female flowers below. Once the male flowers release their pollen, they wither and drop away. Of course, female flowers stay on the stem until they develop mature fruits which fly away like dandelion seeds.

These cattails are fairly easy to distinguish.

Narrowleaf Cattail

Photo © Neal Kramer

Broadleaf Cattail

Photo by Steve Matson

Southern Cattail

Photo by Keir Morse

Narrowleaf Cattail (Typha angustifolia) has narrow leaves, generally under ½” wide and about ¼” when dry. The male flower spike is yellow to light brown and is generally a few inches above reddish-brown female flowers.

Narrowleaf Cattail - Photo © Neal Kramer

Broadleaf Cattail – (Typha latifolia) has wider leaves, about 1” across at the widest point, although less when they dry out. The male flower spike is tan and is generally within ½” of the brown female spike.

Common Cattail - Photo by Steve Matson

Southern Cattail (Typha domingensis) is most common in Southern California. The male flower spike is yellow-brown and generally an inch or so above a cinnamon- to medium-brown female spike. The base of leaves have prominent orange-brown glands. The other cattails do not.

Southern Cattail - Photo by Keir Morse

Corrections/Comments: bruce@PlantID.net