trefle.io · Taken Sep 26, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Mathieu MENAND (cc-by-sa)
Amaranthaceae
Alligator-weed
Alternanthera philoxeroides
Also known as Pig weed, Chaff flower, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Achyranthes philoxeroides
Tropical Plants · Native Plants · Aquatic Plant · Invasive · Wetland · Water Garden · Fast Growing · Semi-Aquatic · Pond Plant · Marginal Plant · South American · Weed
Alligator-weed is an extremely vigorous aquatic to semi-aquatic perennial that spreads rapidly by stems and fragments in wet soils, pond margins, and slow-moving water. It requires strict containment and regular removal to prevent it from overtaking water features and neighboring vegetation. Due to its highly invasive nature in many regions outside its native range, check local regulations before planting.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 6 hours
- Watering
- Keep soil or water consistently moist to wet; naturally thrives in aquatic or semi-aquatic conditions · Every 3-5 days
- Maintenance
- High
- Soil pH
- 4.8–8.8
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed, Division
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 12 in apart
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Green · Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Alabama, Andaman Is., Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Arkansas, Assam, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, California, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Colombia, Florida, French Guiana
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies
Sources: trefle, usda
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