Cattail is an aggressive native herbaceous perennial with upright sword-like green foliage and stiff central stalk with a packed cylindrical inflorescence with male flowers at the top and the female flowers at the end which blooms in summer. Male flowers quickly disperse after bloom leaving naked stalk tips, while female flowers mature to the familiar brown sausage-like fruiting tip.  Foliage turns yellow-brown in fall while fruiting spikes hold until winter. Grows best with full sun and wet soils.  Aggressive self-seeder.