This plant was introduces to the US from Asia, Europe and Africa in the 1950’s.
It has found a home in every State in the contiguous US.
Able to reproduce from seed and fragmented pieces it is quick to fill a body of water.
Each leaf, composed of 24 leaflets that give it a feather appearance are whorled around a central stem. Stems are thick and green but can turn reddish. Plants can reach 10’ tall and become topped-out with a small spiked flower above the water.
Dense mats reach the surface and choke out native species and entire waterways.
Long term professional chemical control program is required to reestablish native species.
