Zizania latifolia

Zizania latifolia is a PERENNIAL growing to 3.5 m .
It is hardy to zone 9. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite .
Suitable for: light , medium and heavy soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic soils. It can grow in semi-shade or no shade. It can grow in water.

Management: Standard Regional Crop Staple Crop: Balanced carb
A marsh or water plant requiring shallow stagnant or slowly flowing water, it is easily grown in most soils in a sunny position. Prefers a slightly acidic clay-loam soil. One report suggests that the plant is in hardiness zone 9 but this is rather questionable, there are several reports of the plant being perfectly hardy in Britain, though it does not usually flower in this country. It requires hot summers with temperatures between 20 - 30°c if it is to do well. It is often cultivated as a food crop in E. Asia and is often grown as cover for wild fowl along the sides of lakes in Britain. It grows very well at Kew.