Zosteraceae
Eelgrass
Zostera marina
Also known as Zostera marina f. latifolia, Seagrass, Zostera pacifica, Zostera marina
Native Plants · Seagrass · Marine Plant · Coastal · Aquatic · Saltwater · Ecological · Habitat · Estuarine · Submerged · Conservation
Eelgrass is a true marine flowering plant that grows fully submerged in shallow coastal saltwater and is not suitable for home or garden cultivation. It plays a vital ecological role as a seagrass meadow species, providing habitat for fish, invertebrates, and waterfowl, and is highly sensitive to water quality and salinity. It is best admired in its natural coastal environment rather than attempted in private cultivation.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 5 hours
- Watering
- Requires permanent submersion in clean, shallow saltwater or brackish conditions · Continuously submerged in marine or estuarine water — not applicable for dryland watering
- Maintenance
- High
- Soil pH
- 8–9
- Temperature
- -30°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
Hardiness
USDA 4a-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Spacing
- 12 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Flowers
- No
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Alaska, Aleutian Is., Algeria, Baleares, Baltic States, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bermuda, British Columbia, Bulgaria, California, Central American Pac, China North-Central, Connecticut, Corse, Delaware, Denmark, East Aegean Is., Finland, France
- Attracts
- Birds
Sources: trefle, usda
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