• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Texas A&M Forest Service
  • Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostics Laboratory
  • Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
  • Texas A&M AgriLife Research
  • Texas A&M College of Agrculture and Life Sciences
AquaPlant
AquaPlantA Diagnostics Tool for Pond Plants and Algae
  • Menu
  • Home
  • Identify a Plant
  • Do I need a permit?
  • FAQs
  • Glossary
  • Videos
  • Online Courses
  • Get Help

Hydrilla

Hydrilla verticillata

Non-Native

Hydrilla Location in US
Hydrilla Location in Southeast US
Single Hydrilla

Hydrilla drawing
Clump of hydrilla being held

Hydrilla laying on concrete
Hydrilla under water
Hydrilla being held over water

Hydrilla covering water
close up hydrilla under water

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 Hydrilla?

Physical Characteristics

Leaves:

  • Strap-like
  • Pointed
  • Grow in whorls of 4-8
  • Often has 1+ sharp teeth along the midrib

Flowers:

  • Tiny
  • White
  • Grow on long stalk
  • Turions 0.25 inch long at leaf axils

Stem:

  • Slender
  • Branching
  • Up to 25 feet long

Roots:

  • Rooted in mud
  • Potato-like tubers attached to roots

Hydrilla is often confused with the native Elodea or the non-native Egeria. Hydrilla has one or more teeth on the underside of the midrib, neither Elodea nor Egeria have these midrib teeth. The teeth make Hydrilla feel rough when drawn through your hand from base to tip. Flowers of Hydrilla are much smaller (1/4 inch in diameter) than Egeria.

Where Does it Grow?

Non-Native

Hydrilla is native to Europe and Asia and was probably brought to the U.S. for the aquarium industry.

Is it Invasive?

Hydrilla is considered a noxious pest because it grows so rapidly, out competing and eliminating native species, and forming surface mats that hinder recreation, navigation, and water intakes.

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

2023 Aquatic Webinars

Jun 20: Fish Management Strategies

Jul 18: To Treat or Not to Treat: Late Season Management

Aug 15: Water Quality for Fisheries Management

Sep 19: Common Aquatic Vegetation Management Mistakes

Oct 17: Liming and Clearing Ponds

Email Subscription

Receive updates on upcoming webinars and newly published materials.

Sign Up Now

Search for a type of plant

Hire a Professional Contact Your Ag & Natural Resource Agent Aquatic Plant Nurseries Permissions and Citations Aquatic Herbicide Tables
Aquatic Vegetation ID Cards
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Texas A&M University System Member

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.

  • Compact with Texans
  • Privacy and Security
  • Accessibility Policy
  • State Link Policy
  • Statewide Search
  • Veterans Benefits
  • Military Families
  • Risk, Fraud & Misconduct Hotline
  • Texas Homeland Security
  • Texas Veterans Portal
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Open Records/Public Information