Appearance

Curly pondweed is made up of broad leaves with curly, finely toothed edges. These leaves grow to 1 to 4 inches long. They grow alternately or slightly opposite on flat, branched stems.

In winter, leaves are blue-green and more flattened. In spring and summer, leaves are reddish-brown and become wider and curlier. Curly pondweed has a shallow root and rhizome system which is a type of plant stem with nodes that roots grow from.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Curly pondweed has a three-stage life cycle. During spring and summer, flowers bloom and float at the water’s surface. The plant begins to die in mid-summer after producing buds, which lie dormant until autumn. In winter, the spring/summer cycle repeats itself when buds sprout into new flowers. Curly pondweed can also reproduce asexually when rhizomes or burr-like structures near the tips of the stems develop into new plants.

Did You Know?

  • Curly pondweed was likely introduced to the United States in the mid-1800s.
  • It can become invasive in non-tidal waters because it grows early in the season and can shade out other underwater grasses.
  • Curly pondweed can be confused with young shoots of redhead grass.

Sources and Additional Information