Cattails are some of the most easy-going, low-maintenance water and marsh plants you can find. They’re a fantastic choice for adding some lush greenery to your backyard pond. But before you dive in, there are a few things you should know to make sure your “punks”—as some folks call them—really thrive in their new home.
Finding the Perfect Spot for Your Cattails
In the wild, you’ll mostly spot cattails hanging out in marshes or along the edges of lakes and ponds. When it comes to your own garden, you’ve actually got a couple of different options for where to put them. Cattails will flourish:
- Directly in the water
- In consistently damp, boggy garden soil
Cattails in the Pond
Cattails can be grown right in the water, where their rhizomes (the root structures) stay submerged year-round. The trick is picking the right variety for your water depth.
If you have a deep pond, the Common Cattail (Broadleaf) is a beast—it can grow up to six feet tall and handles water up to 40 inches deep. If you’re working with a shallow garden pond or just want something for the shoreline, go with the Dwarf Cattail. These little guys stay much smaller and prefer water depths of about four inches or less.
Cattails in the Garden
You don’t necessarily need a pond to enjoy these plants; boggy, wet garden beds work great too. Ideally, the soil should be a bit on the acidic side and stay permanently moist. As long as their “feet” stay wet, cattails are perfectly happy soaking up the full sun all day long.
How to Plant Cattail Rhizomes
Technically, you can plant cattails any time of year. Just dig a hole that fits the size of the rhizome, tuck it in, and press the soil down firmly. If you’re planting along a shoreline, I highly recommend using a planting basket. Cattails are notorious for spreading out and taking over, and a basket helps keep them from becoming uninvited guests in the rest of your yard.
Sowing Cattail Seeds
If you’re not in a rush, you can also grow them from seed. Just scatter the seeds directly where you want them to grow. They’re incredibly hardy, even in the winter, and will start sprouting before you know it.
Transplanting and Managing Growth
Cattails are fast movers! They spread through both self-seeding and their creeping rhizomes. If you aren’t careful, they can crowd out other plants or create too much shade for your pond life.
If they’re getting a bit too crowded, you can dig up individual rhizomes and move them to a new spot. Just a pro-tip: don’t let the roots dry out while you’re moving them. Get them back into the mud or water as quickly as possible so they can settle back in!
