African elodea

Lagarosiphon major

African elodea

Family: Hydrocharitaceae

Other Scientific Names:

Elodea crispa


Weed class: noClass
Year Listed: 2015
Native to: Africa
Is this Weed Toxic?:

Not known to be


Legal listings:

This plant is on the quarantine list. It is prohibited to transport, buy, sell, offer for sale, or distribute plants or plant parts of quarantined species into or within the state of Washington or to sell, offer for sale, or distribute seed packets of seed, flower seed blends, or wildflower mixes of quarantined species into or within the state of Washington. Please see WAC 16-752 for more information on the quarantine list.


Why Is It a Noxious Weed?

This plant is not listed on the Washington State Noxious Weed List but is listed on the Washington State Prohibited Plants (Quarantine) List. For questions about the prohibited plants/quarantine list, contact the Washington State Department of Agriculture's Plant Services Program at (360) 902-1874 or email PlantServices@agr.wa.gov.

How would I identify it?

General Description

It is a completely submersed plant with long stems and many small, narrow leaves. It forms dense mats on water surface.

Flower Description

Very tiny, white to light pink, with parts growing in 3s. 

Leaf description

Curved, stiff, 1 inch long and 1/16-1/8th of an inch wide, growing spirally up the stem

Stem description

Up to 20ft long, but only 1/8th of an inch wide. Brittle, and frequently branching,

Fruit Seed Description

very small and beaked

Where does it grow?

Fully submerged aquatic plant

How Does it Reproduce?

Primarily by cloning vegetatively from stem fragments.

How Do I Control It?

Chopping or cutting is not effective, as it will regrow quickly from segments.

For More Information

Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants information on Lagarosiphon major

Invasive Plant Atlas information on Lagarosiphon major

Lagarosiphon (Lagarosiphon major) weed management guide from the Department of the Environment and Heritage and the CRC for Australian Weed Management

Additional Photos