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Eurasian Watermilfoil

Myriophyllum spicatum

Non-Native

Eurasian Watermilfoil Location in North America
Eurasian Watermilfoil Location in Southeast US
Eurasian watermilfoil on a rock

Eurasian watermilfoil drawing
Eurasian watermilfoil under water
Eurasian watermilfoil in sand

Eurasian watermilfoil up close
Emergent part of eurasian watermilfoil
Branch of Eurasian Watermilfoil

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
Illustration courtesy of University of Florida/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. Used with permission.

What is Eurasian Watermilfoil?

Physical Characteristics

Leaves:

  • Whorls of 3 to 5
  • Mostly about 0.05-0.09 inches apart on stem
  • Rarely reach 0.59 inches long
  • All but lower bracts are shorter than flowers

Flowers:

  • Whorls of 4 on the axils of bracts

Fruit:

  • 4-lobed
  • Almost spherical

Stem:

  • Horizontal stem
  • Branching leafy shoots about 8.1 feet long
  • Reddish-brown in color

Roots:

  • Branch from horizontal stem

Where Does it Grow?

Non-Native

Eurasian watermilfoil is a perennial plant native to Europe, Asia, and Africa and was probably brought to the U.S. as an aquarium plant.

Eurasian watermilfoil can be found in lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams.

Is it Invasive?

Today, it is considered one of the most aggressive and problematic plants in the U.S. because of the dense colonies which it forms. Eurasian watermilfoil is non-native to North America and should not be spread.

This is a non-native plant that should not be grown as it is invasive and illegal to possess or transport this species in Texas. Please report sightings to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at (512) 389-4800.

How to Manage This Plant
Plant Glossary

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Photo Credits: The majority of the aquatic plant line drawings are the copyright of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). They are used with permission.

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

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