Cattails- do I have to worry? (flower, grow, grass, spring)

[ilovemycat]

I bought a bunch of "ornamental cattails" this past fall and have had them on my porch in a tall vessel all winter and now into spring. I call them "ornamental" because I was using them in a decorative way, but they were just long, brown headed cattails. In any case, a while ago, the seed heads began to come off and fly away, or just blow in clumps in and around my porch. Now, I just googled cattails to see where they grow naturally, and learned they are invasive in ponds, marshes etc. I don't have anything like that on my property, but was wondering if I am going to have an issue with them somehow sprouting up all over the place. Anybody know more about them or if they will seed into lawns, flower beds etc? Thanks.

[PAhippo]

If the ground is really wet, the may sprout but they won't grow. On your place any way.


Future reference: if you're going to do that again, spray them with hair spray.

[North Beach Person]

As your research indicated you need marshy conditions for them to grow. I've seen them in sediment ponds and drainage ditches. You don't seem to have those so you should be ok. If not, just pull or cut them.

[kinkytoes]

If these are native cattails, then you just did the country and wildlife a favor. I have these around my pond, and they will only grow in very wet areas. If they DO grow in a wet spot in your grass, you probably won't know as they are easy to mow down.

[ABQConvict]

American Cattails are endangered and even extirpated in much of their natural range.

The ones you have to look out for are the narrow-leafed cattail. I would try to contact the nursery where you bought them and find out which variety they are and/or do some research and try to figure it out.

At any rate, as bad as they are, they are not as bad, in my opinion, as other invasives that occupy the same niche like phragmites and purple loostrife.

[foraged]

You can eat them!