Carolina Mosquitofern
Azolla caroliniana
- Native to:
- Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, United States
Wikimedia: User:SB_Johnny
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Pteridophyta | - Ferns
- Family:
- Salviniaceae
- Genus:
- Azolla
- Species:
- Azolla caroliniana
- USDA Symbol:
- AZCA
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 2 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- waterfowl, fish
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- reddish-brown
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, organic, waterlogged soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found in still or slow-moving freshwater bodies.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Notes:
- Reproduces primarily vegetatively through fragmentation. Spores produced but rarely utilized for propagation in natural conditions.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI