Photo: Stefan.lefnaer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Nuttall's waterweed
Elodea nuttallii (Planch.) H.St.John
—
Height in the aquarium
medium to high
Light
low
CO₂ needs
20–25 °C
Ideal temperature
Water parameters
Understand these values- Position
- background, midground
- Propagation
- fragmentation, cuttings
- Grows emersed
- no
In the wild
Overview
This North American waterweed has longer leaves, sometimes slightly twisted, than Elodea canadensis. It grows in varied waters, including very nutrient-rich ones, and can form large masses. It is often sold as a pond plant under the name of its close relative.
- Scientific name
- Elodea nuttallii (Planch.) H.St.John
- Classification
- Alismatales › Hydrocharitaceae
- IUCN Red List
- Least concern (LC)
Natural habitat
North America
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Introduced in Rivers and lakes
- Native countries
- Introduced by people
Outside its native range, in 36 countries:
An aquarium plant must never reach the wild: throwing away cuttings or emptying a tank into a stream can be enough to establish it.
Countries: Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP). Dots: GBIF observations in the native countries.
In the aquarium
Growing in the aquarium
It copes better than Elodea canadensis with temperatures above 20 °C, without becoming a plant for very warm tanks only. Trimming and cuttings keep the group of stems under control. Watch how much space it takes, as it can spread a lot, and check its identity when buying.
Sources:Flowgrow GBIF POWO (Kew) · Base map: Natural Earth