Coontail Plant - Package of 25 Plants

Coontail Plant (Ceratophyllum demersum)

Coontail Plant: Ceratophyllum demersum, aka the hornwort or coontail plant, is a perennial herb that will grow either fully or partially submerged in slow-moving water. A North American native species, particularly to Florida and the warm Gulf Coast region of Texas, the herb grows best in the warm to hot USDA plant hardiness zones.

The plant takes its common name from its unique appearance. Its leaves are fan-shaped and feathery, growing in lovely whorls around a central stem--this gives it a shape similar to a raccoon's tail.

The Otherworldly Look of the Coontail Plant

The hornwort plant has no roots; it is an olive or dark green, free-floating species with a central stem that nourishes the leaves. The coontail plant can reach up to fifteen feet long and sometimes reaches up toward the sun and out of the water. However, the stem must remain at least partially submerged.

This aquatic species appears in nature in sluggish waters: slow-moving streams or creeks, lakes, protected freshwater inlets, or other calm waters. In the late summer, the hornwort develops fluffy, otherworldly blooms that float on top of the water's surface in the warm temperature zones. However, the blossoms can appear anytime in hotter climates.

The lovely green herb pollinates underwater when gentle currents carry pollen in the water.

The Coontail Plant Is Lovely in Your Pond or Water Garden

TN Nursery customers almost exclusively use the hornwort to add a unique decorative touch to a pond or stream on their property. Because the plant must stay submerged in relatively warm water to thrive, you must provide a full sunshine location with more than a few inches of water.

Order Your Coontail Plant From TN Nursery Today

TN Nursery has a well-informed staff with a wide range of knowledge--including aquatic species. You can order from us with confidence in the quality and health of our plants.