Species Prickly Hornwort
green-olive foliage and olive stems

Prickly Hornwort

Ceratophyllum echinatum

Also Known As - Spineless Hornwort
Prickly Hornwort (Ceratophyllum echinatum) is an aquatic plant, found mainly in temperate areas of Europe. It is an attractive species, with distinctive wavy, beadlike leaves and its unique prickly spines on its stems. It roots deeply into the sandy bottom of shallow ponds and lakes, with its stems floating on the surface. Though not often observed, its greenish-brown flowers are visible when blossoming during the warmer summer months. Prickly Hornwort can be easily cultivated in aquariums, but should be handled with caution as its prickly stems can cause skin irritation.

Watering:

Minimal

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Water Horn-Seed Buttercup (Ceratocephala testiculata) regularly, usually once a week. Make sure to provide enough water to moisten the soil, but not too much that the soil becomes soggy. During the hotter months, increase watering frequency to 2 or 3 times a week to prevent the soil from drying out. In cooler weather, reduce the watering frequency to once a week. If the soil appears to be dry, it's time to water the plant.

sunlight

Horn-Seed Buttercup (Ceratocephala testiculata) is an emerging plant species native to western North America. It prefers full sun to partial shade, and prefers to receive direct sunlight throughout the day. During summer months, Horn-Seed Buttercup should receive approximately 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. For maintenance and actively growing plants, they should receive full sun for at least 8 to 10 hours a day. During the winter months, however, the plant should not be exposed to more than 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight in order to prevent it from becoming overly stressed or harmed by the cold temperatures.

pruning

Horn-Seed Buttercup (Ceratocephala testiculata) should be pruned to 2 or 3 nodes above the soil line in late winter or early spring. By pruning the top growth, the plant can be kept to a manageable size and will encourage a better flowering display. It is best to avoid heavy pruning, as this may result in the plant becoming woody or overgrown.

⚠️ Perenual and its members cannot be held liable for any health issues that may arise from the information provided on the website or from using any of the plants found on the site. The information provided is intended to be used as general guidelines only.