Waterwort: A Tiny Aquatic Native That’s Not for Every Garden
If you’ve ever wondered about those tiny, almost invisible plants growing along pond edges or in shallow water, you might have encountered waterwort (Elatine). This diminutive annual forb is one of those blink and you’ll miss it natives that plays a quiet but important role in aquatic ecosystems across North America.
What Exactly Is Waterwort?
Waterwort is a small annual forb – essentially a non-woody herbaceous plant that completes its entire life cycle in one growing season. Don’t expect any dramatic garden presence here; this is nature’s equivalent of a wallflower. The plants are so small and inconspicuous that many people walk right past them without noticing.
Where Does Waterwort Call Home?
Here’s where things get interesting (and a bit complicated). Waterwort has a complex native status across North America. It’s definitively native to St. Pierre and Miquelon, while its status remains undefined in both Canada and the lower 48 United States. However, you can find waterwort growing across an impressively wide range of locations, from Alberta to Alabama, from British Columbia to Rhode Island, and just about everywhere in between.
Should You Plant Waterwort in Your Garden?
Let’s be honest – waterwort isn’t going to win any beauty contests. If you’re looking for showy flowers or striking foliage, this probably isn’t your plant. However, there are some specific situations where waterwort might make sense:
- You’re creating a naturalistic water garden or bog garden
- You want to support local aquatic ecosystems
- You’re working on habitat restoration projects
- You appreciate subtle, understated native plants
The Reality of Growing Waterwort
Here’s where we need to set realistic expectations. Waterwort requires very specific growing conditions that most home gardeners can’t easily provide:
- Moisture requirements: Needs consistently wet to saturated soils or shallow standing water
- Light needs: Prefers full sun to partial shade
- Soil type: Thrives in muddy, nutrient-rich substrates
- Climate adaptation: Generally hardy in USDA zones 3-9
The Challenges You’ll Face
Growing waterwort successfully is genuinely challenging for most gardeners. As an annual, it needs to reseed itself each year, and creating the right conditions for natural regeneration requires maintaining consistent moisture levels and avoiding disturbance during critical growth periods. Unless you have a dedicated water feature or natural wetland area, establishing waterwort can be more frustration than it’s worth.
Wildlife and Ecosystem Benefits
While waterwort might not be a pollinator magnet (its flowers are tiny and primarily wind-pollinated), it does serve important ecological functions. In aquatic environments, it can provide cover for small aquatic creatures and contribute to the overall biodiversity of wetland habitats.
Better Alternatives for Most Gardens
If you’re interested in native aquatic or moisture-loving plants but want something more garden-friendly, consider these alternatives:
- Blue flag iris for dramatic wetland color
- Cardinal flower for hummingbird appeal
- Swamp milkweed for monarch butterflies
- Pickerelweed for pond edges
The Bottom Line
Waterwort is one of those plants that’s more interesting from an ecological perspective than a gardening one. While it’s not invasive and does have native credentials in some areas, its specialized requirements and minimal ornamental value make it suitable only for very specific applications. Unless you’re working on wetland restoration or have a dedicated naturalistic water garden, you’ll probably find more success and satisfaction with other native aquatic plants that offer similar ecological benefits with greater visual appeal and easier cultivation.