Cabomba Species, Carolina Watershield, Fanwort, Fish Grass, Washington Grass

The site I purchased this from (spring, 2014) lists it as hardy to zone 5. Last fall I attached weights to the stems so that the plants w...Read Moreould sink to the bottom. My small pond is now full of Cabomba, though it hasn't bloomed yet (zone 5a). It provides excellent cover for my Shubunkin goldfish. Last year it produced many pretty small white blooms with yellow centers.

Fanwort, Washington Grass, Fish Grass Cabomba caroliniana is Native to Texas and other States.

I haven't grown this plant so I am unable to rate it.

Cabomba caroliniana is common aquatic perennial found in the southe...Read Moreastern United States as well as some parts of South America. It occurs from Texas to Florida, north to New England (where it can be found in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire) and west to Kansas. It is also present in Oregon and Washington. It grows so aggressively in some regons that it has been declared a noxious, invasive weed ... see list below). It has become extremely invasive in other parts of the world including Japan, Australia and India. It spreads mainly by stem fragments or rhizomes. The species forms large colonies as floating shoots and new rhizomes arise as axillary branches. These are fragile and easily broken which causes the plant to spread even more. Because it forms extremely dense stands, Cabomba caroliniana can clog drainage systems as well as interfere with recreational activities such as swimming and boating. Being sold in the aquarium trade, it is often discarded in local bodies of water.

It is an oxygenator with bright green, feathery, fan-shaped leaves which lie just under the water surface. It has a height of about 1/4 of a foot and its width is between 1 to 6.5 feet. Fanwort will grow in only full sun. The petioled, submersed leaves are opposite, and sometimes whorled, peltate in form, and are 0.75 - 2 inches in width. These leaves are repeatedly divided into filament-like segments. The small floating leaves which are few in number are 0.25-0.75 inches long amd have a linear-elliptic shape. Having entire margins, they often have a basal notch. The stems can be up to 6.5 feet long. This plant grows rooted in the mud of stagnant to slow flowing water. It is found in ditches, ponds, sloughs, streams, smaller rivers and lakes; however, preferring to live in lakes and ponds, it normally lives in 3-10 feet of water.

The long-peduncled flowers are normally white and have a yellow center. But, they can have a pink or purplish color. The sepals and petals are about 0.5 inches across.

This plant is not recommended for large ponds where population control can be very difficult. Small water gardens or large aquariums where the plant can be controlled is suggested. Please do not release bought aquatic plants into natural bodies of water,or storm drains. If you need to get rid of them, give them away to someone who can use them or kill them by baking them in the sun on a patio, driveway or sidewalk. Better yet, add them to your compst pile.

If you must do away with your excess aquatic plants....bury them in your garden (some plants like Water Hyacinth, make excellent fertilizer), give them away to a watergardening friend, kill the plants by drying them on your driveway in the hot sun or compost them in your compost pile.

Lpcations where this plant has become a real nuisance:
California: Q list (temporary "A" list noxious weed, pending final determination )
Connecticut: Invasive, banned
Maine: Invasive aquatic plant
Vermont: Class A noxious weed
Washington: Class B noxious weed, wetland and aquatic weed quarantine
Prohibited sales in California, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington

FYI: This is a Class A Noxious Weed in Vermont. Its movement, importation, sale, possesion, cultivation and/or distribution is prohibit...Read Moreed with fines upto $1000.00 possible.