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Waterleaf

Hydrolea spp.

Waterleaf Locations in North America
Waterleaf Locations in Southeast US
close up waterleaf

waterleaf drawing
flowering waterleaf

Waterleaf bush
waterleaf in water

Waterleaf with flowers
Waterleaf with flowers

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
Illustration: USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York. Vol. 3: 71.

What is Waterleaf?

Physical Characteristics

Leaves:

  • 1.19-4.72 inches long
  • 0.2-1.19 inches wide

Flowers:

  • Bright blue, occasionally white
  • Showy
  • 0.39-1 inches wide
  • Sepals shorter than the flower

Fruit:

  • Egg-shaped or spherical
  • Many seeds
  • Small seeds

Stem:

  • Sturdy & upright

Where Does it Grow?

Waterleaf can be found on the banks of ponds and streams in shallow water.

Pros and Cons of Waterleaf

Waterleaf has no direct food value for wildlife. Submerged portions of all aquatic plants provide habitats for many micro and macro invertebrates. These invertebrates in turn are used as food by fish and other wildlife species (e.g. amphibians, reptiles, ducks, etc.). After aquatic plants die, their decomposition by bacteria and fungi provides food (called “detritus”) for many aquatic invertebrates.

What Type of Waterleaf Do I Have?

There are three common types of waterleaf in North America. Only two of them are common in Texas. Click on the buttons to learn more about each individual species.

Hydrolea ovata
Hydrolea uniflora
How to Manage This Plant
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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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