Great reedmace

Great reedmace facts

Scientific name: Typha latifolia

Family: Typhaceae

Origin: Native

Type: Perennial

Great reedmace and our canals

Great reedmace (or 'bulrush') is a common sight along muddy or shallow waterway banks, and is particularly prominent in waters with high nutrient content. It has the ability to remove nitrate and phosphates from the water, which helps maintain healthy habitats.

Reaching up to two metres high, great reedmace grows in dense clusters and provides excellent shelter and food for a variety of species, including frogs, toads and the endangered water vole.

Its rhizomes and stems are well used by various insects and pollinators - in particular, the ruddy darter dragonfly's nymphs. This plant also provide excellent waterside nesting habitat for birds such as sedge warblers.

Its long brown flower heads can produce around 200,000 light, downy seeds that are dispersed by the wind, enabling it to establish itself across the UK.

What does great reedmace look like?

Its distinctive brown, sausage-like flower heads appear from June to August, making it easy to spot in the warmer months. From its tall green stems grows long, wide leaves, which are often green-grey in colour.

During winter, great reedmace dies back to a brownish colour, and loses its flower heads.

Where to find great reedmace

Widespread across the UK, look out for great reedmace on boggy canal banks and by the edges of open water spaces like ponds and lakes.

When to see great reedmace

Being a perennial plant, great reedmace is present all year round - but more noticeable in the warmer months due to its characteristic flower heads.

Other plant species to look out for