Hydrocharitaceae

Canadian pondweed

Elodea canadensis Michx.

Family: Hydrocharitaceae
Genus: Elodea

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Canadian pondweed (Elodea canadensis) — FlowerPhoto: Dustin Snider, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist

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Common names

By language (35)

Arabic: أيلود كندي
arz: ايلود كندى
Belarusian: Эладэя канадская, Вадзяная зараза
Bulgarian: Канадска водна чума
Chinese: 加拿大水蕴草, 水蕴藻
Croatian: Kanadska vodena kuga
csb: Wòdnô mërta
Czech: Vodní mor kanadský
Dutch: Brede waterpest
English: Canadian pondweed, Canadian waterweed, American pondweed, American waterweed
Esperanto: Kanada elodeo
Estonian: Kanada vesikatk, Vesihain, Vesikatk
Finnish: Vesirutto, Kanadanvesirutto
French: Élodée du Canada, Elodée du canada, Peste-d'eau, Elodee du Canada
German: Kanadische Wasserpest, Breitblättrige Wasserpest
hsb: Kanadiska wódna njerodź
Hungarian: Kanadai átokhínár
Icelandic: Vatnspest
Irish: Tím uisce
Italian: Peste d'acqua
Japanese: カナダモ
Lithuanian: Kanadinė elodėja
Norwegian Bokmål: Vasspest, Vannpest
Norwegian Nynorsk: Vasspest
Persian: علف برکه, علف مرداب
Polish: Moczarka kanadyjska
Portuguese: Elódea-comum, Elódea
Romanian: Ciuma apelor
Russian: Элодея канадская, Водяная зараза, Анахарис, Водяная чума, Водяная чума канадская
Serbian: Vodena kuga
Slovak: Vodomor kanadský
Swedish: Vattenpest, E. canadensis
Tatar: Канада элодеясе
Telugu: ఇలోడియా కెనాడెన్సిస్
Welsh: Ffugalaw Canada

Synonyms

Anacharis alsinastrum Bab. ex Planch.
Anacharis canadensis (Michx.) Planch.
Anacharis canadensis var. latifolia (Casp.) Sanio
Anacharis canadensis var. planchonii (Casp.) Vict.
Anacharis iowensis (Wylie) Wylie
Anacharis linearis (Rydb.) Vict.
Anacharis occidentalis (Pursh) Vict.
Anacharis planchonii (Casp.) M.Peck
Anacharis pomeranica Peterm.
Apalanthe schweinitzii Planch.
Elodea brandegeae H.St.John
Elodea canadensis var. angustifolia (Muhl.) Farw.
Elodea canadensis var. latifolia (Casp.) Asch. & Graebn.
Elodea canadensis var. planchonii (Casp.) Farw.
Elodea gigantea J.K.Santos
Elodea ioensis Wylie
Elodea iowensis Wylie
Elodea latifolia Casp.
Elodea linearis (Rydb.) H.St.John
Elodea oblongifolia Michx. ex Casp.
Elodea occidentalis (Pursh) H.St.John
Elodea planchonii Casp.
Elodea schweinitzii (Planch.) Casp.
Hydora canadensis (Michx.) Besser
Philotria angustifolia (Muhl.) Britton ex Rydb.
Philotria canadensis (Michx.) Britton
Philotria iowensis Wylie
Philotria linearis Rydb.
Philotria occidentalis (Pursh) House
Philotria planchonii (Casp.) Rydb.
Serpicula canadensis (Michx.) Eaton
Serpicula occidentalis Pursh
Serpicula verticillata Rostk. & W.L.E.Schmidt
Serpicula verticillata var. angustifolia Muhl.
Udora canadensis (Michx.) Nutt.

Flowers

In flower: June to August (from 21 flowering iNaturalist observations worldwide)
Flower colour: white (USDA PLANTS Database)

Characteristics

Growth habit: Forb/herb
Lifespan: Perennial
In the US and Canada: Alaska: introduced, Canada: native, Lower 48 states: native, Puerto Rico: introduced

Photos

FlowerPhoto: Dustin Snider, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
FlowerPhoto: Dustin Snider, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Christian Fischer, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: captainclover, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Kristian Peters -- Fabelfroh 10:50, 30 December 2005, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: nebrooks, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Radio Tonreg from Vienna, Austria, CC BY 2.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Harry Podschwit, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Ursus sapien, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Roman A. Lagazyuk (Роман А. Лагазюк), CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
Photo: Ihor Panas, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Brand R, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist

More in Elodea

Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.