Zizania latifolia Seeds | Wild Rice
LATIN NAME: Zizania latifolia
COMMON NAME: Wild Rice
Plant Profile
Among the ornamental and useful plants raised from seed, Wild Rice (Zizania latifolia) stands out as a grass in the grass family. Wild rice is a tall, waving grass of shallow waters, and fine, feathery heads rise above broad, arching leaves. It is a plant of open, sunny, shallow, muddy ground. Bees find the flowers quickly, and that pollinator traffic is a garden benefit in its own right. Put simply, this is a rewarding species for anyone willing to give it a suitable spot.
Science & Biotechnology
Like other members of the grass family, Zizania latifolia draws steady attention from botanists and plant breeders, who value the genus both as a subject of research and as a source of garden-worthy material. Centuries of cultivation have left a detailed record of how it grows and behaves.
Uses & Benefits
Wild Rice brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. Wild rice is a fine, historic plant of water garden and shallow lake. Keep shallow water clean around young plants, and grains will set in late summer. A plant that has settled in will get along with only routine care.
Wild rice is a protein-rich, nutty aquatic grain sacred to the Great Lakes peoples and prized by chefs; it is a genuinely whole food.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed of Wild Rice under ordinary good conditions. Sow thinly on the surface of a loose, well-drained seed compost, cover lightly, water in gently and keep the tray in a sunny spot with even moisture. Move strong seedlings into individual pots, keep them in good light, and set them out when the weather and their size agree.
Our Take
Being a grass, it asks for a permanent spot and repays it yearly. Wild Rice has real presence in the garden without demanding much in return. Keep the sowing evenly moist at the start — that is the one real requirement.
Related Reading
More species in the same orbit as Wild Rice: