What kind of plant is coontail?

Coontail is a submerged aquatic perennial with no true roots. It forms long trailing stems covered in whorls of forked, bristly leaves and drifts or loosely anchors in the water column.

What water conditions does coontail need?

It needs to be fully submerged in fresh water most of the time, doing best in still or slow moving ponds, lakes, and quiet stretches of streams with ample moisture.

Does coontail need direct sunlight?

Coontail grows in water where light is filtered by depth or surface cover, so it tolerates part sun conditions rather than full, unshaded exposure.

When does coontail flower?

It produces very small, easy to miss flowers from March into November, with timing shifting somewhat by local water temperature and region.

Is coontail useful in a home pond or aquarium?

Because it grows fully submerged without needing soil, coontail is often used to add underwater structure and oxygenation in garden ponds and aquariums.

Is Coontail toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Coontail as toxic to livestock.

Is Coontail HOA-friendly?

Coontail takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Coontail

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Ceratophyllum demersum

Last reviewed: October 2026

Ceratophyllum demersum, or coontail, is a rootless submerged plant that grows entirely underwater in ponds, lakes and slow streams, with inconspicuous flowers from March through November.

Toxicity unknown

Coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Coontail as toxic to livestock.

Light

part sun

Water

high

Size

12"–144" H × 12"–144" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Native to

AL, AR, AZ, CA and 44 more states

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Coast Range Puget Lowland Marine West Coast Forest Northwestern Forested Mountains Sierra Nevada Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains Central California Valley Southern California Mountains North American Deserts Central Basin and Range Mojave Basin and Range Southern Rockies Arizona/New Mexico Mountains High Plains Southwestern Tablelands Central Great Plains Great Plains Cross Timbers Edwards Plateau Texas Blackland Prairies East Central Texas Plains Western Gulf Coastal Plain South Central Plains Eastern Temperate Forests Ozark Highlands Central Irregular Plains Northwestern Glaciated Plains Northwestern Great Plains Northern Glaciated Plains Western Corn Belt Plains Northern Forests Northern Lakes and Forests North Central Hardwood Forests Driftless Area Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains Central Corn Belt Plains Eastern Corn Belt Plains Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains Huron/Erie Lake Plains Northeastern Highlands Northeastern Coastal Zone Northern Allegheny Plateau Erie Drift Plain Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Piedmont Southeastern Plains Ridge and Valley Western Allegheny Plateau Interior Plateau Interior River Valleys and Hills Mississippi Alluvial Plain Mississippi Valley Loess Plains Southern Coastal Plain Southern Florida Coastal Plain Madrean Archipelago Sonoran Basin and Range Acadian Plains and Hills Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens Southern California/Northern Baja Coast

Coontail is a submerged aquatic plant that grows entirely underwater in ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams. This native plant has no roots and floats freely or anchors loosely to the bottom with modified leaves.

Growing Coontail

Grow Coontail in part sun and high water. Mature plants reach 12 to 144 inches tall and spread 12 to 144 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Coontail takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Height exceeds typical HOA-friendly range

Wildlife value

Provides important habitat and oxygen for fish, aquatic insects, and amphibians. Serves as food for waterfowl and helps maintain water quality in aquatic ecosystems.

Common questions

What kind of plant is coontail?: Coontail is a submerged aquatic perennial with no true roots. It forms long trailing stems covered in whorls of forked, bristly leaves and drifts or loosely anchors in the water column.
What water conditions does coontail need?: It needs to be fully submerged in fresh water most of the time, doing best in still or slow moving ponds, lakes, and quiet stretches of streams with ample moisture.
Does coontail need direct sunlight?: Coontail grows in water where light is filtered by depth or surface cover, so it tolerates part sun conditions rather than full, unshaded exposure.
When does coontail flower?: It produces very small, easy to miss flowers from March into November, with timing shifting somewhat by local water temperature and region.
Is coontail useful in a home pond or aquarium?: Because it grows fully submerged without needing soil, coontail is often used to add underwater structure and oxygenation in garden ponds and aquariums.
Is Coontail toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Coontail as toxic to livestock.
Is Coontail HOA-friendly?: Coontail takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

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