Widgeongrass
Ruppia maritima
- Native to:
- Aldabra, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Azores, Bahamas, Baleares, Baltic States, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Cayman Is., Central American Pacific Is., Chile, China, Colombia, Corse, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, DR Congo, East Aegean Is., Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Fiji, Finland, Føroyar, France, French Guiana, Gabon, Galápagos, Germany, Ghana, Gilbert Is., Greece, Guatemala, Gulf States, Guyana, Hainan, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kriti, Krym, Labrador, Lebanon-Syria, Leeward Is., Libya, Madagascar, Madeira, Malaya, Marianas, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nansei-shoto, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Ogasawara-shoto, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Phoenix Is
Gordon Leppig & Andrea J. Pickart
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Ruppiaceae
- Genus:
- Ruppia
- Species:
- Ruppia maritima
- USDA Symbol:
- RUMA5
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- waterfowl, fish, invertebrates
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, nutrient-poor, saline soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist to submerged
- Notes:
- commonly found in coastal and brackish waters
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best in brackish water conditions; salinity and temperature fluctuations can affect germination timing.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI