Myriophyllum spicatum

RHS Plant Profile

spiked water milfoil

RHS 2002

Other common names

meakin, water navelwort, myrdd-ddail tywysennaidd

Aquatic

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A submerged aquatic perennial with branched shoots bearing whorls of leaves pinnately divided into hairlike segments, with minute dull red flowers in spikes above the water surface, in summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Loam

Moisture: Poorly–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Haloragaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Submerged
Genus: Myriophyllum can be submerged or marginal aquatic rhizomatous perennials, with finely dissected submerged leaves and small or minute flowers, solitary or in spikes from the leaf axils
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: N.America, Europe, Asia, N.Africa

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in baskets of loamy soil in water at a depth of 1m in full sun. See pond plants for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by cuttings of root segments

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildlife gardens
Low Maintenance

Pruning

Cut back regularly to avoid excessive growth

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free