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Water-plantain Care

Alisma Plantago-aquatica

Other names: European Water Plantain, Deil's Spoons, Devil's Spoons, Mad Dog Weed, Thumbwort

Water-plantain main
Water-plantain 0
Water-plantain 1
What is the plant

Alisma plantago-aquatica, also known as European water-plantain, common water-plantain or mad-dog weed, is a perennial flowering aquatic plant widespread across most of Europe and Asia from Portugal and Morocco to Japan, Kamchatka and Vietnam. It is also regarded as native in northern and central Africa as far south as Tanzania. It is reportedly naturalized in southern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, British Columbia, Washington state and Connecticut. Some sources maintain that the species is widespread across North America, but these reports appear to have been based on misidentified specimens.It is found on mud or in fresh waters. A. plantago-aquatica is a rhizomatous, aquatic, deciduous perennial with rosettes or elliptic to lance-shaped, pointed, grey-green leaves and tall, whorled panicles of white flowers from late spring into early summer.

It can be invasive in South Africa.

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Humidity

Humidity

High

Lighting

Lighting

Full Sun

Hardiness zone

Hardiness zone

5 - 9

Difficulty

Difficulty

Medium

Toxicity

Toxicity

Poisonous

How to Care for the Plant

  • Water

    Water

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    Succeeds in a sunny position in boggy ground or shallow water up to 25cm deep

  • Pruning

    Pruning

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    Deadhead regularly in order to prevent problems from self-seeding

  • Sunlight

    Sunlight

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    Full Sun It cannot grow in the shade.

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  • Soil

    Soil

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    Organic or silty soils

  • Temperature

    Temperature

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    It is hardy to zone (UK) 6.

  • Additional

    Additional

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    The fresh leaves and roots are toxic but the toxic principal is destroyed by heat or by drying. The seed is said to promote sterility. By contrast it is also said to promote conception

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  • Popularity

    Popularity

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    176 people already have this plant 32 people have added this plant to their wishlists

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