Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Hydrocharitaceae

Genus:

Vallisneria

Species:

Vallisneria americana

USDA Symbol:

VAAM3

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

200 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

jul,aug,sep,oct

Bloom Colors:

white, green

Wildlife Benefits

Caterpillars:

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

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

waterfowl, fish, turtles, muskrats

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

nutrient-rich, silty or sandy substrate

pH:

6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

tolerates poor drainage

Moisture:

consistently moist to submerged

Notes:

commonly found in freshwater habitats like rivers and lakes

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

None required

Germination Time:

14–28 days

Notes:

Seeds germinate readily when submerged in water; propagation typically done via turions or rhizome division.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI