Plant Details

Typha angustifolia

Small Reed Mace

Back

Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Typha angustifolia.

Use this plant

Log in to add this plant to your recipes.

Log in

Common names

45 names · 32 languages
EnglishYour language
  • lesser bulrush[1]
  • lesser reedmace[1]
  • narrow-leaved cattail[1]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • narrowleaf cattail[1]
  • Small Reed Mace
Other languages (31)
Dutch
  • Fijne lisdodde
  • Kleine lisdodde[1]
  • Kleine rietsigaar
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • leine lisdodde
French
  • Massette à feuilles étroites[1]
  • Quenouille à feuilles étroites[1]
  • Roseau à feuilles étroites
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • roseau à massette[1]
Belarusian
  • Рагоз вузкалісты[1]
Catalan
  • boga de fulla estreta[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • orobinec úzkolistý[1]
Danish
  • Smalbladet dunhammer[1]
Estonian
  • ahtalehine hundinui[1]
Finnish
  • kapeaosmankäämi[1]
German
  • Schmalblättriger Rohrkolben[1]
Hebrew
  • סוף צר-עלים[1]
Hungarian
  • Keskenylevelű Gyékény[1]
Italian
Japanese
  • ホソバガマ[1]
Korean
  • 애기부들[1]
Latvian
  • šaurlapu vilkvālīte[1]
Lithuanian
  • Siauralapis švendras[1]
Maori
Mono
Norwegian
  • smal dunkjevle[1]
Polish
  • Pałka wąskolistna[1]
Portuguese
  • taboa-fina[1]
Russian
  • Рогоз узколистный[1]
Slovak
  • Pálka úzkolistá[1]
Spanish
Swedish
  • Smalkaveldun[1]
Thai
  • ธูปฤๅษีใบแคบ[1]
Tongva
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Рогіз вузьколистий[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Typha angustifolia — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Tule — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • narrow-leaved cattail — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • lesser bulrush — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • lesser reedmace — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • narrowleaf cattail — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • boga de fulla estreta — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • Schmalblättriger Rohrkolben — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • junco — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • Massette à feuilles étroites — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • roseau à massette — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • taboa-fina — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • orobinec úzkolistý — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • 水燭 — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • Smalbladet dunhammer — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • Smalkaveldun — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • ahtalehine hundinui — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • 애기부들 — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • Рогоз узколистный — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • smal dunkjevle — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • Pałka wąskolistna — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • Kleine lisdodde — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • kapeaosmankäämi — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • Siauralapis švendras — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • Raupo — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • ホソバガマ — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • miish — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • 水烛 — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • Рогіз вузьколистий — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • Tifa — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • Stiancia — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • Schiancia — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • Рагоз вузкалісты — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • ธูปฤๅษีใบแคบ — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • Keskenylevelű Gyékény — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • סוף צר-עלים — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • Pálka úzkolistá — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • Quenouille à feuilles étroites — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • toiba — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • šaurlapu vilkvālīte — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.
  • Saz — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 60316; Typha angustifolia.

General information

Scientific name: Typha angustifolia
Accepted name (Kew): Typha angustifolia L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Typhaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Typha (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Small Reed Mace
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Aquatic
Catalogue size class: Medium
Height: 0.91–2.13 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.91–1.52 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Erect, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Frequent Standing Water, Occasional Flooding, Occasionally Wet

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Flowers, Condiment, Oil, Pollen, Root, Stem, Seed
Edibility rating:
(5)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Biomass production, Insulation, Oil, Paper, Stuffing, Bee forage, Carbon farming

Description

Carrots can be eaten both raw and cooked. Cooked carrots can serve as a substitute for potatoes. They can also be crushed into a sweet syrup. Dried carrots can be ground into a powder that can be used as a thickening agent in soups or added to flour. This powder is high in protein and is often used for making cookies. Young shoots in the spring can be eaten raw or cooked and serve as a substitute for asparagus. The base of the mature stem can be eaten both raw and cooked, with the advice to remove the outer part of the stem. Young flower stalks can be used raw or cooked and taste like sweet corn, making them ideal for soup. The seeds of this plant are small and difficult to harvest, but they have a pleasant nutty flavor when roasted. The seeds can also be used to make edible oil. The pollen of the plant can be eaten raw or cooked to add extra protein to flour when making bread and oatmeal. They can also be eaten together with young flowers.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/07
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 252338; name ID 270918; Typha L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 252355; name ID 270931; Typha angustifolia L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Typha angustifolia

    Taxonomic data from WCVP, version 16.0, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1452190, ID 59V56: Typha angustifolia L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Typha angustifolia — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .