See All Aquatic Plants and Algae

This video will look at the four categories of pond plants, and some of the most common aquatic plants that are found in Pennsylvania.

Earn Cat. 9 and PC credits while you learn about aquatic environments, aquatic herbicides, and more.

Duckweed and watermeal are free-floating aquatic plants that are commonly encountered in Pennsylvania. They are commonly found in nutrient-rich ponds with stagnant or little flow.

The links below provide a listing of aquatic or wetland plants considered to be noxious weeds by the federal government or Pennsylvania.

One of more than 20 pondweed species (Potamogetons) that occur in Pennsylvania, this invasive plant from Europe frequently grows to nuisance levels in ponds.

Coontail is a common aquatic plant in Pennsylvania ponds and lakes. It has whorls of stiff leaves that get more compact toward the end of the stem.

One of the most common native, submerged pond plants in Pennsylvania.

Eurasian Milfoil is an invasive, nonnative, plant with long stems, often reaching to the surface, with feather like leaves in whorls of 4 or 5 around the stem.

Elodea is one of the few pond plants that can remain green all winter long.

Planktonic algae floats in the water column and can sometimes be confused with muddy water. It causes the water to look green, brown or reddish in color.

Different species of filamentous algae exist, but all have a similar growth habit. These algae begin growth in the winter and early spring on the pond bottom.

Nitella and Chara look like rooted, aquatic plants, but both are actually a form of algae.

The type of aquaculture operation that you begin will be influenced by your financial and labor resources as well as available markets.

This presentation provides an overview of the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Issue as it relates to Water Gardening.

Several Aquatic Invasive Species of particular concern in Pennsylvania are discussed, and their identifying characteristics reviewed.

This video provides an overview of aquatic plants.

Herbicides are often the first thing pond owners turn to when nuisance aquatic plants appear in their ponds.

When plants and algae grow abundantly, pond and lake owners often think about ways to eliminate the offending plant. Nutrient control is the long term solution.

There are a few biological methods, that when applied correctly can be very effective and environmentally friendly to your pond.

While aquatic plants and algae may interfere with pond uses, they also serve vital roles in supporting the fish and animal life that make up the pond ecosystem.

Understand the importance and benefits of aquatic plants, and learn how to manage them in your pond.

Identify and manage the aquatic plants growing in your pond.

A water garden is fundamentally an outdoor aquarium. The gardener needs to manage the pH, nutrients, and organisms introduced into the system.

This information is intended to help select native aquatic plant alternatives and avoid invasive plant species. This guide is intended as a portable reference.