Freshwater and oligohaline tidal marshes, ponds, open swamps, sluggish streams and floodplain pools, calcareous marshes and fens, beaver impoundments, ditches, and other disturbed wetlands; can be invasive in natural or artificial wetlands that have been eutrophied by agricultural or urban runoff. Frequent to locally common throughout Virginia
Birds use the cattail as nesting material. Rhizomes are a food source for small mammals
High Value Generalist
Earth Sangha lists this plant as a "High Value Generalist" because it is easy to grow, occurs across a wide range of habitats and is known to be of high value to wildlife
Weedy. Grow in containers to control the spread in smaller ponds or water gardens and cover with up to 30 inches of water
My Native Garden
Put together a printable/downloadable list of plants that you have in your garden.