Cattails have one major advantage over other wild edibles; they are high in calories relative to other foraged foods. If you ever find yourself in need of an energy boost, the cattail plant is a good one to know. For example, lets say you feel drained after a long day of backpacking in the wilderness and you stumble upon a pond with cattails. You can easily harvest several tender shoots and rootstalks, chop those bits into a salad or soup, and be well on your way to muscle recovery. I call this: “wilderness  carb-loading.”

Additionally, cattails have many survival applications. The second year growths (cottony seed heads at the top of the plant) make for awesome sleeping bag / jacket insulation in a pinch. The same fluffy matter is also a decent fire starter. For these reasons, and several others, I think that all serious foragers should get well acquainted with cattails. To help you along, I took the time to publish a video and eBook about the cattail plant. Happy foraging!