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| ## curly pondweed {#curly-pondweed .Title-Header}                     |
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| *Potamogeton crispus* L.                                              |
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| Plant Symbol = POCR3                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center

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# Uses

*Wildlife*: Curly pondweed tends to increase oxygen levels and produce
substantial organic material in aquatic environments (Guard 1995). This
pondweed shelters small fish and aquatic insects that provide food for
larger fish and amphibians (Ibid.).

# Status

# Introduced into the U.S. Considered a pest by several sources. Please consult the PLANTS Plant Profile for this species and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious status and wetland indicator values. 

# Description

*General*: Pondweed family (Potamogetonaceae). Curly pondweed is an
introduced, fast growing perennial. The stems are flattened and somewhat
branching, forty to eighty centimeters long and mostly one to two
millimeters wide (Guard 1995). The leaves are simple, long, narrow and
attached directly to the stem. The flowers are brownish and
inconspicuous and usually occur from May to October.

Distribution: Curly pondweed has been introduced from Massachusetts to
Minnesota, south to Virginia and Missouri (Tiner 1987). For current
distribution, please consult the Plant profile page for this species on
the PLANTS Web site.

# Adaptation

This species has invasive qualities. Curly pondweed is commonly found in
ponds, lakes, canals, pools and slow moving water of rivers and streams.
This plant grows well in sandy, loamy and clay soils. It prefers acid,
neutral and basic soil and can grow in very alkaline and saline soils.
This species is not shade tolerant.

# 

# Establishment

*Propagation by Seed*: Curly pondweed seeds should be sown as soon as
they are ripe, in summer or early autumn (Heuser 1997). The seeds lose
viability quickly if they are allowed to dry out (Ibid). Prick out the
seedlings when they are large enough to handle and increase the depth of
water around the pot until the plants are covered by a few centimeters
of water. Grow the plants in a sunny position in the greenhouse for
their first winter, increasing the depth of water, as the plants grow
larger. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer.

# Management

Curly pondweed is an aquatic plant that can be used as an oxygenator of
ponds. This species sometimes becomes a pest in waterways, lakes and
reservoirs (Guard 1995). It is a fast growing plant in need of constant
checking to make sure it does not overrun ponds, pools or canals.

# Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Materials are available from wetland plant vendors. Contact your local
Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation
Service) office for more information. Look in the phone book under
"United States Government." The Natural Resources Conservation Service
will be listed under the subheading "Department of Agriculture."

# References

Brickell, C. 1990. *The RHS gardener's encyclopedia of plants and
flowers*. Dorling Kindersley, London.

Britton, N.L. & A. Brown 1970. *An illustrated flora of the Northern
United States and Canada*. Dover Publications, New York, New York.

Guard, J.B. 1995. *Wetland plants of Oregon and Washington*. Lone Pine
Publishing, Redmond, Washington.

Radford, A.E., H.E. Ahles, & C. Bell 1968. *Manual of the vascular flora
of the Carolinas*. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill,
North Carolina.

Steyermark, J.A. 1963. *Flora of Missouri*. The Iowa State University
Press, Ames, Iowa.

Tiner, R.W., Jr. 1987. *A field guide to the coastal wetland plants of
the northeastern United States*. The University of Massachusetts Press,
Amherst, Massachusetts.

# Prepared By

#### Lincoln M. Moore

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

# Baton Rouge, Louisiana

# Species Coordinator

*Lincoln M. Moore*

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Edited: 08apr02 ahv; 25feb03 ahv; 060808 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
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