Cattails are a tall  bunch growing water plant that is common to ponds and lakes in california. This grass is used as shelter by small mammals and birds alike  with the Red-winged Black Bird using it as nesting grounds. These plants are evergreen  going deciduous when heavy stress in induced. They flowers are long poles  with a round cylinder atop the tip  carrying the white seeds that are spread via the wind. They prefer full sun and can thrive in  more clay-like soils.