Plant Details

Myriophyllum spicatum

Water Milfoil

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Common names

45 names · 29 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Eurasian water-milfoil[1]
  • Foxtail[1]
  • spike[1]
+4 more namesShow fewer names
  • spiked water-milfoil[1]
  • spiked watermilfoil[1]
  • tähkä-ärviä[1]
  • Water Milfoil
Other languages (28)
Dutch
  • Aarvederkruid[1]
French
  • Myriophylle en épi[1]
  • Myriophylle en épis[1]
  • Myriophylle à épis[1]
Arabic
  • عديد الورق الأوراسي[1]
  • عديد الورق الشائك[1]
Catalan
  • llapó anguilenc[1]
  • volantí espigat[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 穗状狐尾藻[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • stolístek klasnatý[1]
Danish
  • Aks-tusindblad[1]
Estonian
  • päine vesikuusk[1]
  • tähk-vesikuusk[1]
Finnish
  • tähkä-ärviä[1]
German
  • Ähren-Tausendblatt[1]
  • Ährenblütiges Tausendblatt[1]
  • Ähriges Tausendblatt[1]
Hebrew
  • אלף-עלה משובל[1]
Hungarian
  • füzéres süllőhínár[1]
Italian
  • millefoglio d'acqua comune[1]
Japanese
  • キンギョモ[1]
  • トゲホザキノフサモ[1]
  • ホザキノフサモ[1]
Korean
  • 이삭물수세미[1]
Latvian
  • Vārpainā daudzlape[1]
Lithuanian
  • Varpotoji plunksnalapė[1]
Norwegian
  • akstusenblad[1]
Polish
  • Wywłócznik kłosowy[1]
Portuguese
  • Milefólio-de-espiga[1]
  • pinheirinha-de-água[1]
Russian
  • Уруть колосистая[1]
Slovak
  • stolístok klasnatý[1]
Slovenian
  • klasasti rmanec[1]
Spanish
  • Milenrama acuática euroasiática[1]
Swedish
Turkish
  • Sucivanperçemi[1]
Ukrainian
  • Водопериця колосиста[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Myriophyllum spicatum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Eurasian water-milfoil — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • spiked water-milfoil — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • Ähriges Tausendblatt — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • Ährenblütiges Tausendblatt — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • אלף-עלה משובל — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • millefoglio d'acqua comune — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • Myriophylle en épis — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • llapó anguilenc — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • volantí espigat — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • aarvederkruid — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • 聚藻 — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • stolístek klasnatý — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • Aks-tusindblad — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • Уруть колосистая — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • akstusenblad — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • tähkä-ärviä — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • Varpotoji plunksnalapė — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • Milefólio-de-espiga — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • ホザキノフサモ — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • キンギョモ — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • トゲホザキノフサモ — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • Vārpainā daudzlape — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • axslinga — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • tähk-vesikuusk — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • päine vesikuusk — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • Ähren-Tausendblatt — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • Wywłócznik kłosowy — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • عديد الورق الأوراسي — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • عديد الورق الشائك — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • Foxtail — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • 이삭물수세미 — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • klasasti rmanec — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • spike — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • Водопериця колосиста — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • 穗状狐尾藻 — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • pinheirinha-de-água — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • füzéres süllőhínár — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • spiked watermilfoil — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • tähkä-ärviä — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • stolístok klasnatý — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • Milenrama acuática euroasiática — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • Myriophylle en épi — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • Myriophylle à épis — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.
  • Sucivanperçemi — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 78157; Myriophyllum spicatum.

General information

Scientific name: Myriophyllum spicatum
Accepted name (Kew): Myriophyllum spicatum L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Haloragaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Myriophyllum (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Water Milfoil
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Aquatic
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.10 m
Spread: - m
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [2]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [2]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Frequent Standing Water

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [2]
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Dappled Sunlight, Deep shade, Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Root
Edibility rating:
(1)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
None

Description

Carrot - raw or cooked. Sweet and crunchy, carrots were a beloved food for various Native American tribes.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/06
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 79671; name ID 2366573; Myriophyllum Vaill. ex L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 80161; name ID 2366673; Myriophyllum spicatum L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Myriophyllum spicatum — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: Growth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .