Potamogeton ×aemulans: A Rare Aquatic Native You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
If you’re scratching your head at that scientific name, you’re not alone! Potamogeton ×aemulans is one of those fascinating native plants that flies completely under the radar—partly because it lives underwater and partly because it’s incredibly rare. This unique aquatic perennial is a hybrid member of the pondweed family that calls only a tiny slice of New England home.
What Exactly Is This Plant?
Potamogeton ×aemulans is what botanists call a forb—essentially a non-woody perennial plant. But unlike the forbs you might know from your garden border, this one lives its entire life submerged in water. As indicated by the × in its name, this is actually a hybrid species, meaning it’s the offspring of two different pondweed species that decided to get together and create something new.
This plant belongs to a fascinating group of aquatic natives that most gardeners never encounter, simply because they require very specific growing conditions that go way beyond your typical backyard setup.
Where Does It Call Home?
Here’s where things get really interesting (and limiting): Potamogeton ×aemulans has one of the most restricted native ranges you’ll find. It’s only naturally found in Connecticut and Massachusetts, making it a true New England specialty. Even within these states, it’s not exactly common—this is definitely not a plant you’ll stumble across at your local garden center.
The Wetland Specialist
This plant has earned the designation of Obligate Wetland in the Northcentral and Northeast regions, which is a fancy way of saying it almost always lives in wetlands. In fact, it’s so tied to aquatic environments that it simply can’t survive without being fully submerged in water for most or all of its life.
Should You Try to Grow It?
Here’s the reality check: unless you’re working on a very specialized wetland restoration project or have a large, established natural pond system, Potamogeton ×aemulans probably isn’t the plant for you. Its extremely limited availability, specific growing requirements, and potential rarity status make it more of a botanical curiosity than a practical garden choice.
Better Alternatives for Water Gardens
If you’re interested in native aquatic plants for your water garden or pond, consider these more readily available alternatives:
- Wild celery (Vallisneria americana) – great for submerged coverage
- Water lilies (Nymphaea species) – beautiful floating flowers
- Pickerel rush (Pontederia cordata) – striking purple spikes for pond edges
- Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia) – distinctive arrow-shaped leaves
The Takeaway
Potamogeton ×aemulans represents the incredible diversity of native plants that exist in very specific ecological niches. While it’s not a plant most gardeners will ever grow, it serves as a reminder that native plant communities include amazing specialists adapted to every possible habitat—even the underwater ones we rarely think about.
If you’re passionate about supporting native aquatic ecosystems, focus on protecting existing wetland habitats where plants like this can thrive naturally, and choose more available native water plants for your own aquatic gardening projects.
