Vallisneria americana - Water Celery

Family:	Hydrocharitaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Synonyms:	V. gigantea. Gaertn.
Range:	E. Asia. Eastern N. America - N. Dakota to S. Manitoba and Quebec.

Vallisneria americana (Water Celery) is a Perennial. It has a hardness rating of 9.
The flowers from this plant are dioecious (each plant is either male or female, thus both genders need to be present to seed) and they are pollinated by Water

Soil Information

Water Celery will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Water Celery prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Water Celery should not be planted in shady areas.

Quiet waters[204].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Is a pond plant

Cultivation Details

A water plant for a large aquarium or for deep water outdoors[1], it prefers slightly acid conditions in a sunny position[200]. This species is not very hardy in Britain, though it should succeed outdoors in the mildest areas of the country[200]. A valuable water oxygenator[200]. The leaves can be up to 1 metre long[1]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Male flowers are produced below the surface of the water and females are produced on the surface. Fertilization takes place when male flowers break off the plant, float to the surface and fall into a slight depression formed by the female flowers on the surface of the water[274].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 1/5
Young leaves - cooked[105, 177].

• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 0/5
None known

Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a warm greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. Lay the seed on the surface of a pot of soil and immerse this in water. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in water in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division of rooted runners in the growing season.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

Flora of Canada
Livingstone. B.
Author: Livingstone. B.
Rating:
Publisher : In 4 volumes, it does not deal with plant uses but gives descriptions and habitats.
Date of Publication : 1978

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