Typha are aquatic or semi-aquatic, rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial plants. Typha are often among the first wetland plants to colonize areas of newly exposed wet mud, with their abundant wind-dispersed seeds. Buried seeds can survive in the soil for long periods of time. They germinate best with sunlight and fluctuating temperatures, which is typical of many wetland plants that regenerate on mud flats. The plants also spread by rhizomes, forming large, interconnected stands. The Male seed heads look like hot dogs, and when broken apart, are made up of thousands of fluffy seeds that easily disperse in the wind. The leaves, shoots, roots and seeds are all edible. 
 
Cattails form a dense stand on the edge of shallow waters, and filter sediments and heavy metals from the water. They infuse oxygen into the root-zone. Even dead stalks allow oxygen to flow down into the mud and surrounding waters. Cattails grow to 6 feet tall and look great in any freshwater environment.