Species Canadian pondweed
off-white flowers with green foliage and lime-green stems

Canadian pondweed

Elodea canadensis

Canadian pondweed (Elodea canadensis) is a truly remarkable aquatic species. It is a hardy and versatile plant, flourishing in both warm and cold climates as well as a variety of water depths. Its wide-reaching, paddle-shaped leaves filter out pollutants, creating a cleaner, healthier environment for all aquatic life. Additionally, its fibrous root structure tunnels deep into the riverbed, stabilizing the ground and helping to prevent shoreline erosions. The rapid growth of Elodea canadensis also provides great cover and food for fish and other aquatic animals, making it an invaluable species to many natural aquatic ecosystems.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Sexual Reproduction,Asexual Reproduction,Fragmentation,Tissue Culture,Budding,Asexual Reproduction

Hardiness Zone:

4 - 10

Flowers:

Greenish-white Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Moderate

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Water Canadian pondweed (Elodea canadensis) twice a week. The water should not be too deep and should only be enough to cover the soil or substrate. If the plant is in a water tank or aquarium, it should be provided with between 2 to 4 inches of water. Canadian pondweed should be watered every 3 to 5 days with a large amount of water for vigorous growth.

sunlight

Canadian pondweed (Elodea canadensis) prefers sunlight for at least 6-8 hours per day. This plant does best when it is exposed to both direct sunlight and bright indirect sunlight. When these plants receive too much direct sunlight, their leaves may become scorched. Therefore, it is best to provide this plant with filtered sunlight throughout the day. In general, it is best to keep Canadian pondweed in an area that receives ample amounts of sunlight, and provide shade during the hottest times of the day, such as midday.

pruning

Canadian pondweed (Elodea canadensis) should be pruned once a year, usually anytime from late spring to early summer, with a systematic approach of removing around 1-third of the stems at a time. To do this, start at 1 end of your pond, and carefully cut stems at their base using sharp, clean shears or scissors. As you work your way around the pond, make sure the ends of the cut stems are submerged in the water in order to prevent them from decaying anywhere other than underwater. By removing stems you can control the spread of this aquatic plant and even reduce it if desired by cutting to the root in thin areas. This will promote healthy growth on the remaining stems and make the pond look more balanced.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Elodea canadensis typically starts flowering in June.

Hardiness Map