Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Killing cattails

I too pull every new sprout of cattail and have managed to keep all of them OUT. If you want some plants similar to cattails and not as invasive plant water iris.
Two native species:
Iris versicolor - blueflag
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=IRVE2
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=irve2
Iris fulva - copper iris
http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/beauty/iris/louisiana/iris_fulva.shtml

Other Aquatic Iris Examples:
http://www.rivergategardens.com/wateriris.html

Iris pseudacorus yellow flag
http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/205
NEW LINK with better info:
http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/iripse/all.html

I.pseudacorus is a fast grower and spreader getting pretty tall. Spreads by seeds that float to many areas of the pond. This one can in smaller ponds be a nuisance but IMO not as bad as cattails.