Spiked Water Milfoil

Description

Myriophyllum propinquum is a perennial aquatic plant with unusual spiked foliage.The name Myriophyllum comes from the Latin, "myrio" meaning"too many to count", and "phyllum",meaning "leaf". This plant can be grown fully submerged as an oxygenator, or partially emerged, in areas of full sun or partial shade. Plant up into medium baskets of aquatic soil, with a covering of pea gravel to stop the planting medium from clouding the water, and submerge up to a depth of 90cm(35.4") in areas of slow-moving water. The leaves that grow above the water's surface tend to be shorter and stiffer than those below the surface; the dense underwater leaves provide a protected environment for fry and other small aquatic creatures. The emergent stems offer places for dragonflies and damselflies to alight and lay their eggs. Tiny dark red flowers may be borne on the emergent leaf axils during June and July. This plant will require periodic maintenance to keep it in check. Always dispose of cuttings carefully and never allow them to enter our native waterways. Propagation is straightforward, by division or from cuttings.