Create Your Garden

Azolla caroliniana (Carolina Mosquito Fern)

Carolina Mosquitofern, Carolina Mosquito Fern, Water Fern, Eastern Mosquito Fern, Fairy Moss, Fairy Floating Moss

Azolla caroliniana, Carolina Mosquitofern, Carolina Mosquito Fern, Water Fern, Eastern Mosquito Fern, Fairy Moss, Fairy Floating Moss, Aquatic Ferns, Pond Plants
Azolla caroliniana, Carolina Mosquitofern, Carolina Mosquito Fern, Water Fern, Eastern Mosquito Fern, Fairy Moss, Fairy Floating Moss, Aquatic Ferns, Pond Plants
Azolla caroliniana, Carolina Mosquitofern, Carolina Mosquito Fern, Water Fern, Eastern Mosquito Fern, Fairy Moss, Fairy Floating Moss, Aquatic Ferns, Pond Plants

Azolla caroliniana (Carolina Mosquito Fern) is a tiny floating fern forming a mat of prostrate and freely branched stems covered with bilobed scale-like leaves arranged in two rows. The upper leaf floats on the surface and the lower leaf is submerged. The pale green to blue-green foliage turns bright red in response to stress such as very bright light or very high or low temperatures. Small feather-like roots are produced along the lower surface of the stem and hang freely in the water. Native to North America, Carolina Mosquito Fern occurs naturally in ponds and lakes, in slow-moving streams, in canals, and in backwaters and sloughs. It grows extremely quickly under optimum conditions and can sometimes become a nuisance. It can form thick mats that completely cover the surface of the water, preventing mosquitoes from depositing their eggs. A unique trait of Carolina Mosquito Fern is its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form. This is done via a symbiosis with the cyanobacterium, Anabaena azollae. Nitrogen is one of the 3 vital macronutrients required for plant health, so this species can be used as a biofertilizer. Carolina Mosquito Fern is cultivated as an ornamental plant for use in water gardens, aquaria, and ponds.

  • This deciduous perennial spreads indefinitely.
  • Performs best in full sun to part shade in water gardens, ponds, or aquatic containers.
  • Virtually pest and disease free.
  • Reduce its spread by removing portions with a net.
  • Propagate by redistributing clusters of plantlets when they appear.
  • Native to North America.

Requirements

Hardiness 7 - 11
Heat Zones 1 - 11
Plant Type Aquatic Plants, Ferns
Plant Family Salviniaceae
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall
Height 1" - 2" (3cm - 5cm)
Maintenance High
Water Needs High
Soil Drainage Poorly Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, New Jersey, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Southeast, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Illinois, Kansas, Indiana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Kentucky, Texas, Oklahoma
Tolerance Wet Soil
Garden Uses Ponds And Streams, Water Gardens
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 7 - 11
Heat Zones 1 - 11
Plant Type Aquatic Plants, Ferns
Plant Family Salviniaceae
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall
Height 1" - 2" (3cm - 5cm)
Maintenance High
Water Needs High
Soil Drainage Poorly Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, New Jersey, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Southeast, Southwest, Midwest, Northeast, Illinois, Kansas, Indiana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Kentucky, Texas, Oklahoma
Tolerance Wet Soil
Garden Uses Ponds And Streams, Water Gardens
How Many Plants
Do I Need?

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Azolla caroliniana (Carolina Mosquito Fern) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Azolla caroliniana (Carolina Mosquito Fern) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone