Differences in physicochemical characteristics of sediment and changes in density, height and dry matter of shoots along different water depths were investigated in the stands of Zizania latifolza populations of the littoral zone of Lake Paltangho, Korea. Any significant differences in sediment chemistry were not found along water depth, although sand content decreased slightly with increasing depth. Shoot density of Zizania latqolia decreased with increasing water depth. In shallower water, many of the short shoots died in the early growth stages. The morphology of shoots was taller and heavier in deeper water. The distributions of shoot heights became negatively skewed and leptokurtic as plants grew, and these changes occurred in the earlier growth stages in deeper water. The standing crop of shoots increased with increasing water depth. These results suggest that Zizania lattfolia has a growth strategy for adjustment to deep water through decreasing shoot density and increasing height.