By Becca Badgett, Co-author of How to Grow an EMERGENCY Garden. It is easy to see why this plant is called Parrot Feather: its delicate, feathery, bright green leaves grow in profusion. The emergent stems and leaves are the most distinctive trait of parrot feather, as they can grow up to a foot above the water surface and look almost like small fir trees. Spikes of feathery leaves, with whorls of 4-6 leaves, grow up to a foot above the water and resemble miniature pine trees. It is a very popular plant in aquatic gardens. Parrot feather is a perennial plant. Generally, all parrot’s feather plants are female and because of this they do not produce seeds; this plant spreads via underground stems, and plant fragments can be dispersed with water, animals, boats, and fishing gear. Has anyone kept parrot's feather as an aquarium plant before? How to Care for a Parrot. Height: The Parrot Feather can grow shoots up to 12 inches (30cm). How to Care for Parrot feather. Parrot feather reproduces asexually. Growing: Anchor it into the substrate in bunches to create a bush effect where it can receive plenty of bright light. This plant grows great at the edge of a pond. Parrot feather plants grow in fresh water areas from rhizomatous roots. There is no real predator to the Parrot feather plant, so it tends to grow out of control in some areas. Non-Native. I recently received an email out of the blue about the evasive plant, parrot feather... Hey Pond Plant Girl , ... We grow and sell pond plants and gourmet Italian artichoke plants. Pros and Cons of Parrot’s-feather. Cutting the plant encourages it to grow, so control can be complicated if it grows to restrict your drainage pipe or begins to destroy beneficial algae. The spiral of leaves may be 3 inches or more and grow … I floated them on top of my aquarium and let the roots dangle by the filter output. If the parrot feather aquatic plant grows too larger, it can be trimmed and the tops replanted. Where Does it Grow? It is against the law to buy, sell, trade, possess or transport Parrot Feather. Parrots are highly intelligent birds and can make wonderful pets, but there are some things to know about them and their care requirements before making the decision to get one. Parrot’s-feather can be found in ponds, ditches, streams, and on seepage slopes. Grow it underwater to oxygenate water, provide fish a place to hide, and reduce on algae. Parrot’s feather is a native of the Amazon River and was introduced to North America in the Washington, D.C., area around 1890. I floated them on top of my aquarium and let the roots dangle by the filter output. It is a very popular plant in aquatic gardens. Buying Guide. I have a bunch outside that is thriving, so I decided to bring a couple of them inside for my guppy tank. An incredibly easy plant to propagate, parrot’s feather really only needs wet feet and it’ll largely be happy. Learn how to identify Parrot Feather and how to prevent the introduction or spread of this plant with your watercraft or fishing equipment. The attractive, feathery fronds of parrot feather plants often encourages the water gardener to use it in a bed or border. Parrot feather gets its name from its feather-like leaves that are arranged around the stem in whorls of four to six. It is native to South America and blooms from the spring to fall. Unfortunately, in outdoor ponds, lakes, or streams, where this plant has taken root some problems can occur due to its presence. Parrotfeather, a Class B noxious weed, is a submerged aquatic plant that grows aggressively in lakes, ponds, ditches, and other freshwater habitats. Its emergent leaves are whorled, stiff and usually have 20 or more linear divisions (10 leaflet pairs) on each leaf, they are feather-like and grayish green and can extend up to 12 inches long above the water surface. Or let parrot’s feather float on the water to provide shade. However, since its introduction, the plant has spread throughout the southern United States and northward along both coasts. But there … Has anyone kept parrot's feather as an aquarium plant before? The attractive, feathery fronds of parrot feather plants often encourages the water gardener to use it in a bed or border. It is easy to see why this plant is called Parrot Feather: its delicate, feathery, bright green leaves grow in profusion. Parrot’s Feather has feathery, bright green foliage that soars with ease over the water’s surface. Never buy, plant or keep Parrot Feather in your aquarium or water garden. In order to keep the water nutrient levels high, it’s recommended to add iron-rich fertilizer which contains mineral trace elements regularly. Aquatic herbicides are sometimes effective in parrot feather plant care and control. You can identify this plant underwater by its stiff, bright-green upper stems. It appears to prefer warmer, milder climates and has spread quickly via plant fragments through Learn about growing artichokes and pond plants in-ground and about container growing too. It is native to South America and blooms from the spring to fall. If you’re growing parrot feather outdoors, make sure you prune it to the ground or water level, to avoid the dead leaves and stems decomposing and ruining the water quality over winter. Parrot's feather is a versatile plant for ponds and water gardens. By Becca Badgett, Co-author of How to Grow an EMERGENCY Garden.