Typha shuttleworthii

11 Sep

Typha shuttleworthii Flower (30/06/2012, Kew Gardens London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Summer

Soil: Wet (planting depth 0cm to 60cm)

Eventual Height: 1.5m

Eventual Spread: 70cm

Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

Family: Typhaceae

Typha shuttleworthii is a deciduous, marginal, perennial, freshwater wetland species. Its light green leaves are upright, strap shaped are up to 1.5cm wide and 1.5m long. Its dark brown monoecious flowers are cylindrical, are up to 30cm long and borne on long flower stalks. Its roots of this plant are rhizomes which aids its spread.

Typha shuttleworthii, commonly known as Reedmace or the Broadleaf Cattail, is native to Central and Southern Europe to south west Asia. This plant is under threat in a number of its natural environments.

Typha shuttleworthii (30/06/2012, Kew Gardens London)

The etymological root of the binomial name Typha is derived from the Greek name for this plant, Tufh. Shuttleworthii, we believe, is named after the botanist Robert James Suttlewort (1810 – 1874), reader feed back on this would be welcome.

The landscape architect may find Typha shuttleworthii useful for pond, streams and lake planting. This species of Typha is not as invasive as others. It is suitable for use as part of a Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) in the form of drainage ditches and swales.

Ecologically, Typha shuttleworthii provides food and nesting sites for waterfowl, marsh birds and small mammals.

Typha shuttleworthii prefers wet, fertile soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.