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Wild Rice

Wild Rice

Zizania aquatica

grass☀️ full sun💧💧💧 high waterZone 10aZone 9a

Wild rice is a tall native aquatic grass that grows in shallow wetlands and produces edible grains prized for their nutritional value and nutty flavor. It is an excellent choice for rain gardens, ponds, and wetland restoration projects.

Overview

Form
Upright
Growth Rate
fast
Size
4–9.8′ tall
Dormancy
deciduous

Tolerances & Soil

Flood Tolerance

high
Zone 10aZone 9a
1471013
ColderWarmer
Zone range: Zone 10a to Zone 9a

pH Range

6.47.4
7.0
3.556.589
pH range: 6.4 to 7.4

Soil Texture

Coarse, Medium, Fine

Seasonality

Bloom Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Harvest Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Season of Interest

SummerFall

Herb

Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.

Succession Role

pioneerearly successional

Native to the United States

Native Range

North America, particularly Great Lakes and northern regions

Native to: Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa

Function & Care

biomass/mulchediblewildlife benefit

Edible Parts

seed

Establishment & Care

Establishment
moderate
Maintenance
low
Years to Bearing
1 years
Propagation
seed

Notable Cultivars

Northern and Southern cultivars are available, selected for adaptation to their respective climate zones; seed strains are typically regionally sourced rather than named cultivars.