Experienced grower's notes on Cattail

I've been growing plants seriously for over fifteen years and Cattail remains a reliable favourite. For anyone starting out: the most critical thing is removing dying foliage in autumn before it rots and reduces water quality. Everything else follows from that.

frost damage on tender varieties left in shallow water is the challenge that trips up most beginners and some experienced growers too. I've been growing mine in a stream edge or bog garden for three seasons now and the results are consistently good. essential habitat and breeding ground for pond wildlife is what makes it worth coming back to year after year. overwintering dormancy in the pond bed is when I show it off — it earns its place fully then.