American Water-willow Dianthera americana
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Justicia americana
- Phonetic Spelling
- dy-AN-ther-ah ah-mer-i-CAH-nah
- Description
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Water Willow is a herbaceous, aquatic perennial with white and purple flowers blooming from early summer into the fall. Only a few flowers bloom at the same time. The flowers are showy and bloom over a long period. It has green, 2-6" long willow-like leaves.
Grow in full or partial sun, in shallow standing water up to 3', or moist soil that is sandy, muddy, or gravelly. It can be found in the shallow water of ponds, streams, lakes, and rivers. Water Willow spreads by underground stems to form large colonies. In shallow-water it provides refuge for young freshwater fish.
The flowers are pollinated by bees, wasp flies, small butterflies, and skippers.
Despite the common name, Water Willow is not a woody plant or related to the willows.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dianthera
- Species:
- americana
- Family:
- Acanthaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- E. Canada to Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila)
- Distribution:
- East Canada to Mexico
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Water Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Dry and splits open when ripe to release 4 seeds
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers of Water Willow are mostly white with pale purple or lightly speckled with purple dots, and dark purple mottling at the base of the lower lobe.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Rubbery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Entire
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The medium green deciduous leaves are narrow in shape and smooth along the margins. 2-6" long and 1/4-1" wide.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Form:
- Straight
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Pond
- Riparian
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
