Aquatic Plant Profile: Eel grass

Eelgrass (Vallisneria americana), also known as Ribbon grass, is a fully submerged Victorian water grass species, growing to a maximum height of 2m but will mostly stop at the water's surface. Spreading via runners along the substrate it provides a large habitat for fish to feel safe in and lay their eggs. Mass plantings of this species along the bottom look amazing with shimmering natural sunlight. This plant is best planted in an aquatic plant pot/bag and secured in a gravel or pebble bed where it can support itself and reproduce with a good root system.

Adding a grass meadow of Eel grass in front of a partial water flow will give a stream effect with the grasses blowing over in the direction of the flow, this aesthetic is very natural and quite mesmerising. 

This plant prefers a full sun position but will also do well in part shade

Eel grass does not die back in Winter so you and your pond's inhabitants can enjoy it all year round. It will also benefit from a slow release pond fertiliser tablet annually (pushed directly into the plant pot/bag). 

This plant grows with runners. Propagation is achieved by cutting baby plants off along the runner as they develop their own roots, they can be transplanted to other areas on the pond, garden or another pot to establish.