Aquatic Plants North America

Emergent aquatic plants

Plants with leaves that extend above the water surface

Acorus calamus

Sweetflag, calamus

Sweetflag description

Native, perennial, rhizome, spadix bloom (yellowish brown) early-midsummer, fruit by late summer, sediment stabilizer, aromatic (spicy), root extract can act as insecticide

Butomus umbellatus

Flowering rush

Flowering rush description

Exotic, perennial, spreads via rhizome, Terminal cluster of flowers (pink) midsummer, fruit cluster of follicles w long beans,

Carex spp.

Sedges

Sedges description

Native, Leaves come off of steps at 3 angles, perigynium covers nutlet, flowers unisexual, flowers midsummer, nutlets mature late summer, valuable food source & spawning habitat, filter water

Carex comosa

Bristly sedge, bottle brush sedge

Bristly sedge description

Overwinters, Native, Dense stem cluster, slender spike, perigynia, flowering spikes midsummer, nutlets late summer, shoreline stabilizer

Dulichium arundinaceum

Three way sedge

Three-way sedge description

Perennial, Native, rhizome, short & stiff leaves, round & hollow stem, flowers in linear spikelets by midsummer, fruit surrounded by finely barbed bristles by fall, buffer wave action