Echinodorus cordifolius (Creeping Burhead)

Echinodorus cordifolius (Creeping Burhead) is an emergent aquatic or wetland perennial boasting large, cordate to ovate, dark glossy green leaves that can reach up to 16 in. in length (40 cm). Borne on very long stalks, the leaves are adorned with 3-5 prominent veins and lines of translucent spots. Blooming freely from spring to fall, clear white flowers, 1 in. across (2.5 cm), appear in whorls of 3-15 blossoms on long flowering stems. Arching or spreading outwards across the water surface, one stem can display up to 3-9 whorls of flowers. Long-blooming and attractive, the flowers feature 3 small greenish sepals, 3 broad white petals and 20 small yellow stamens. They give way to tiny beaked achenes (fruit). A native of the USA, Mexico, the Caribbean and South America, Creeping Burhead occurs naturally in wet ditches, along streams and rivers, and around the margins of ponds and lakes. It naturalizes by rhizomes and can form dense clumps. Creeping Burhead can be grown totally submerged in a large aquarium, or as an emergent in the shallow ends of pools or bog gardens.

• Grows up to 2-4 ft. tall (60-120 cm) and 3 ft. wide (90 cm).
• Performs best in deep, rich, moist to wet soils in sun to part shade. Will grow in standing water about 6 in. deep (15 cm).
• A beautiful addition to bogs, pond areas, water gardens and aquariums.
• Can be propagated by cutting off young adventitious plantlets from the inflorescence.
• No serious pest or disease issues.
• Pruning the roots regularly will help keep the plant smaller.
• Native to Mexico, the West Indies, Central America, South America (as far south as Paraguay) and the southeastern United States (Texas to Florida and as far north as Iowa).