Giant Salvinia, Water Fern, Kariba Weed, Aquarium Water Moss, Koi Kandy, Butterfly Fern, Cat's Tongu

Salviniamolesta

Genus
Salvinia (sal-VIN-ee-uh)
Species
molesta (mol-ESS-tuh)
Synonym
Salvinia auriculata
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Foliage
Evergreen
Succulent
Height
under 6 in. (15 cm)
Spacing
3-6 in. (7-15 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Bloom Color
Inconspicuous/none
Bloom Time
N/A
Other Details
Category
Ponds and Aquatics
Water Requirements
Very high moisture needs; suitable for bogs and water gardens
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information
Propagation Methods
Seed Collecting
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Rockledge, Florida

Raleigh, North Carolina

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

0
positive
1
neutral
6
negatives
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C
ROSLINDALE, MA | February 2016 | negative

This aquatic species a US federally declared noxious weed, which means its importation and transportation are illegal, both interstate an...Read More

F
Josephine, Arlington, TX (Zone 8a) | December 2006 | negative

Giant Salvinia, Water Fern, Kariba Weed, Aquarium Water Moss, Koi Kandy, Butterfly Fern, Cat's Tongu Salvinia molesta is naturalized in t...Read More

M
Bartow, FL (Zone 9a) | July 2005 | negative

PLEASE NOTIFY AUTHORITIES if you find this horrible exotic fern growing in your area. MN4

C
C
Woodland Park, CO (Zone 4b) | November 2004 | negative

U. S. FEDERALLY LISTED NOXIOUS WEED.
Not allowed for import to the US and not allowed in any interstate or intrastate transportat...Read More

J
J
North Clarendon, VT | August 2004 | negative

FYI: This plant is a Class A Noxious Weed in the state of Vermont. Its movement, importation, sale, possession, cultivation and/or dist...Read More

W
Ferndale, MI | June 2004 | neutral

Giant Salvinia is illegal to sell in the U.S. It is possibly the worlds worst aquatic weed. It grows very rapidly. It severely diminis...Read More

D
New Orleans, LA (Zone 9a) | November 2003 | negative

I believe this is an invasive exotic in Louisiana which outcompetes duckweed, an important food source for migratory waterfowl. It may b...Read More

Featured
Common Carder Bumblebee
(Bombus pascuorum)
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(Athene cunicularia)
Featured
Common Carder Bumblebee
(Bombus pascuorum)
Burrowing Owl
(Athene cunicularia)