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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Elodea canadensis

Elodea canadensis Michx.

Canadian Waterweed

Hydrocharitaceae (Tape-Grass Family)

Synonym(s): Anacharis canadensis, Anacharis canadensis var. planchonii, Elodea brandegeeae, Elodea ioensis, Elodea linearis, Elodea planchonii, Philotria canadensis, Philotria linearis

USDA Symbol: ELCA7

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (I), PR (I), CAN (N)

Typically found in calcareous, "hard" water. Useful as oxygenator in garden ponds, and as shelter for small fishes and aquatic invertebrates. Can be cultivated in an aquarium. Very invasive if grown in rich soil.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Submersed stems up to about 30 inches long.
Leaf: Gray-Green
Fruit: Berrylike.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NS , ON , QC , SK

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Sun
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Aquatic: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: OBL OBL OBL OBL OBL OBL OBL OBL OBL
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Elodea canadensis in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Elodea canadensis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Elodea canadensis

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-04-05
Research By: TWC Staff

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