Red-Stemmed Parrot Feather Myriophyllum aquaticum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- my-ree-oh-FIL-um a-KWA-ti-kum
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
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Parrot feather is an invasive water plant that can cover the entire surface of a pond. This plant is native to South America, Australia and New Zealand in the more tropical areas. In the USA it is found in coastal and southern states invading shallow lakes, ponds, ditches and backwaters in rivers forming dense mats. The monocultures disrupt the growth of native aquatic plants and provide breeding areas for mosquitoes as well as impeding water sports. It is sometimes used in aquariums as an oxygenator.
The delicate, feathery bright-green to blue-green leaves grow in a whorl around the stem both in and out of the water. The vines can grow up to 6 feet long and will become erect and leafy at the ends and can root in the soil on the banks of ponds. Only female plants are known to grow in the US so the tiny flowers do not produce fruits. Spread in vegetatively.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Listed as invasive by the NC Invasive plant council and in other states. See native alternatives to the left.
- 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:
- Myriophyllum
- Species:
- aquaticum
- Family:
- Haloragaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South America, Australia and New Zealand,
- Wildlife Value:
- Submerged foliage serves as shelter for fish, helps remove excess nutrients and acts as an oxygenator
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Water Plant
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Horizontal
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
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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:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruit is produced in the USA as only female plants are known to grow here
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Inconspicuous flowers are formed in the axils of the emergent leaves in the spring, Flowers are not pollinated in the US
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Small leaves in whorls; on 5-6 foot stems. Aerial foliage has a deeper blue-green color, submerged foliage is bright green.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Dense, tough reddish-green stems
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Landscape:
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
