Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Elatinaceae

Genus:

Elatine

Species:

Elatine americana

USDA Symbol:

ELAM3

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Annual

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

10 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

jun,jul,aug,sep

Bloom Colors:

white, pink

Ground Cover:

Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Caterpillars:

★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

waterfowl

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

moist, nutrient-rich, silty soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

tolerates poor drainage

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

Commonly found in shallow water or wet mud.

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days

Germination Time:

14–30 days

Notes:

Seeds require light for germination and should be surface-sown on consistently wet substrate.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI