Plant Profile: Myriophyllum aquaticum

Taxonomy: Myriophyllum aquaticum

Names

Parrot Feather

  • Photo of Myriophyllum aquaticum (Myriophyllum aquaticums)

Phonetic Spelling:my-ree-oh-FIL-um a-KWA-ti-kum

Genus:Myriophyllum

Species:aquaticum

Family:Haloragaceae

In water gardens, plants can thrive in containers placed in water up to 6 inches deep or along moist banks. These plants are frequently utilized in aquariums for oxygenation; while they grow submerged, they can also take root and produce leaves above the water in shallower areas. However, they are considered invasive and can disrupt local ecosystems by forming dense populations that choke waterways. They absorb nutrients directly from the water, making soil planting optional, although they can still establish roots in soil. Additionally, they are classified as a noxious weed in several states.

Myriophyllum aquaticum Feature Summary

Myriophyllum aquaticum Image Gallery

Tags

#invasive
#full sun tolerant
#water garden
#perennial
#water plant

Similar Plants

Myriophyllum aquaticum Feature Summary

Attributes
Central & South Tropical America
Submerged foliage serves as shelter for fish, helps remove excess nutrients and acts as an oxygenator
Perennial
Flowers
Grown for folage
Leaves
Small leaves in whorls; aerial foliage have a deeper blue-green color
Green
Blue
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Water Plant
Spreading
Horizontal
Creeping
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Frequent Standing Water
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
10b
High Organic Matter
Landscape
Water Garden
Invasive Species

Myriophyllum aquaticum Attributes

Myriophyllum aquaticum: Country Or Region Of Origin

Central & South Tropical America

Myriophyllum aquaticum: Wildlife Value

Submerged foliage serves as shelter for fish, helps remove excess nutrients and acts as an oxygenator

Myriophyllum aquaticum: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Myriophyllum aquaticum Flowers

Myriophyllum aquaticum: Flower Description

Grown for folage

Myriophyllum aquaticum Leaves

Myriophyllum aquaticum: Leaf Description

Small leaves in whorls; aerial foliage have a deeper blue-green color

Myriophyllum aquaticum: Leaf Color

spa
Blue
spa
Green

Myriophyllum aquaticum: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Myriophyllum aquaticum: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Myriophyllum aquaticum: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Myriophyllum aquaticum: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Myriophyllum aquaticum Whole Plant Traits

Myriophyllum aquaticum: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Myriophyllum aquaticum: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Myriophyllum aquaticum: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Myriophyllum aquaticum: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Myriophyllum aquaticum Cultural Conditions

Myriophyllum aquaticum: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Myriophyllum aquaticum: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Myriophyllum aquaticum: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Myriophyllum aquaticum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Myriophyllum aquaticum: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Myriophyllum aquaticum Stem

Myriophyllum aquaticum: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Myriophyllum aquaticum Landscape

Myriophyllum aquaticum: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Myriophyllum aquaticum: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Myriophyllum aquaticum: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy