Elodea

Scott's Nursery Ltd.

$9.99
Title

Enhance your pond with the lush, underwater elegance of Elodea canadensis. This native aquatic beauty features mesmerizing, translucent dark-green leaves that spiral in dense whorls around slender, branching stems. Whether anchored to the pond floor or drifting gracefully as a floating plume, its vibrant, emerald-like foliage creates a captivating subterranean forest. In late summer, look for its delicate, tiny white flowers that rise on thread-like stalks to dance momentarily upon the water's surface.

Type Guide

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Plant Details

Growth Rate:

Fast

Zone:

3-10

Planting Depth:

Submerged (6" to 10' deep)

Pet Safe:

Yes

Light:

Full Sun/Partial Shade

Type:

Oxygenator / Submerged

Plant Profile

Common Names:

Canadian Waterweed, Common Waterweed, American Waterweed, Anacharis

Scientific Name:

Elodea canadensis

New Brunswick Hardy:

Yes

Growth Details:

Mature Size: Stems typically reach 2 to 4 feet in ponds, but can grow much longer in the wild.

Growth Habit/Form: Submerged, multi-branched perennial.

Growth Rate: Fast to Very Fast.

Longevity: Perennial.

Flowering: Rare; produces tiny, three-petalled flowers.

Flower Colour: White to greenish-white.

Bloom Time: July to September.

Spreading Behaviour: Rapidly spreads via stem fragmentation and turions.

Environmental Needs:

Planting Location: Submerged in still to slow-moving fresh water.

Container Requirements: Can be grown in mesh bags, weighted pots with gravel, or left free-floating.

Exposure: Thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Soil Preferences: Prefers silty or loamy sediments but is adaptable to various substrates like gravel.

Water Preferences: Cool, nutrient-rich water with a pH between 6.5 and 9.0.

Tolerances: Highly adaptable to various water depths and temperatures.

Care Guide

Pond Benefits & Ecosystem Role

Water Impact:

Superior oxygenation and algae control. It acts as a natural filter, removing excess nutrients and ammonia from the water.

Fish & Wildlife Interaction:

Provides essential spawning habitat for koi and goldfish. It offers vital cover for fry, frogs, and aquatic invertebrates, and serves as a food source for waterfowl.

Benefits & Uses:

A premier "oxygenator" that clarifies water by out-competing algae for nutrients. It also helps stabilize pond sediments with its roots.

Planting & Care Guide

Planting Considerations:

Water Consideration: Still-to-slow-moving water.

Planting Depth: Submerged (shallow to deep water; ideally up to 4m).

Ideal Pond Type: Best for small water gardens and aquariums; use containers in larger ponds to control spread.

Planting Instructions: Drop weighted bunches into the water or anchor stems 2-3 inches deep into gravel at the pond bottom.

Care:

Fertilization Needs: Generally unnecessary, as it efficiently absorbs nutrients from the water. A balanced aquatic fertilizer (10-10-10) can be used sparingly if growth is slow.

Maintenance: Easy to maintain. Regular pruning or thinning is recommended to prevent it from overcrowding other plants due to its rapid growth.

Winter Care: Extremely hardy; it often remains green under ice and produces overwintering buds (turions) that sink to the bottom to regrow in spring.

Tips For Success:

To keep your water crystal clear, use about 4-5 bunches per cubic meter of water to effectively compete with algae.

Fruit Profile