Illinois Pondweed
Potamogeton illinoensis
Also known as: Pondweed
- Native to:
- Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, United States, Uruguay
Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 1: 79. Courtesy of Kentucky Native Plant Society. Scanned by Omnitek Inc.
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Potamogetonaceae
- Genus:
- Potamogeton
- Species:
- Potamogeton illinoensis
- USDA Symbol:
- POIL
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Aquatic
- Height:
- 200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- green
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- waterfowl, fish, aquatic invertebrates
- 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 slow-moving or still waters
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best when submerged in shallow water; cold stratification improves germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds were cold stratified for 150 days
Source: npn.rngr.net