plant · Hydrocharitaceae

Elodea

Elodea canadensis

Wild range: Temperate North America — British Columbia to Nova Scotia, south to California and northern Florida; rivers and lakes to ~2000 m, often lime-rich waters (North America)

At a glance: Elodea care

Compiled reference information. Review the care notes and original sources below.

What temperature is listed for Elodea?

The compiled profile lists 10.0–25.0 °C for Elodea (Elodea canadensis). Check the original sources below for context and differing recommendations.

What pH is listed for Elodea?

The compiled profile lists a pH of 6.0–8.0. Review the cited care sources alongside the other water parameters in this profile.

Natural habitat

Submerged coldwater stem plant with bright green translucent leaves in whorls of three (rarely 2–4) along slender brittle stems. Roots loosely in mud or drifts free-floating; flowers small white/pale purple at the surface. Classic oxygenator for cool aquaria and outdoor ponds; grows fast and can form dense underwater stands.

Where they are found

Primary Elodea canadensis Michx. (Flowgrow, POWO/Wikipedia); inventory/trade common name Elodea / Canadian waterweed. DISTINCT from Egeria densa (Brazilian waterweed), already in this catalog as slug egeria-densa with common name Anacharis — US pet-store 'elodea'/'anacharis' bunches are often Egeria densa, not true Canadian waterweed (Carolina Biological). Flowgrow also notes Elodea nuttallii is frequently mis-sold as E. canadensis in the European pond trade. Keep Anacharis as a shared trade alias for this page but prefer Canadian waterweed for clarity; do not merge with egeria-densa. Family Hydrocharitaceae, order Alismatales. Cool-preferring: Flowgrow optimum 10–25 °C (tolerance 4–28); sustained tropical 26–28 °C often causes decline. Invasive outside North America (Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania) — never release cuttings outdoors.

Aquarium care

Best in unheated or cool community tanks (goldfish, white cloud, temperate natives) and outdoor ponds; plant stem bunches into gravel/sand or leave floating. Medium light is the catalog baseline (Flowgrow medium–high; Interaquaristik low–high with moderate preferred). CO2 injection is not required (Interaquaristik). Fast grower — trim and replant tip cuttings regularly; discard trimmings in trash, never into waterways. Prefers mineral-rich water; leaves absorb nutrients from the column. Avoid liquid-carbon/glutaraldehyde products, which can melt Hydrocharitaceae stems. Under warm tropical temperatures stems thin and fray; move to cooler water if growth collapses.

Compatibility

Peaceful community plant; excellent cover for fry and shrimp when floating. Goldfish and larger herbivores may nibble soft stems. Pair with other cool-water plants; do not expect long-term success in warm South American/African tropical tanks (contrast with more heat-tolerant Egeria densa / Anacharis on the egeria-densa page). Sensitive to glutaraldehyde liquid carbon.

Sources

Compiled from multiple independent care sheets — not copied from a single site.