Curly-Leaf Pondweed

Curly-leaf Pondweed

Curly-leaf Pondweed

Curly-leaf pondweed Potamogeton crispus

Where did curly-leaf pondweed come from?

  • Curly-leaf pondweed is a native to Eurasia, Africa, and Australia.
  • By 1950, curly-leaf pondweed had infested most of the U.S.
  • Curly-leaf pondweed is found in Clark SFL, Pottawatomie #2 SFL, Kingman SFL, Ottawa SFL, Park City's Chisholm Pointe Pond, Lake Dabinawa, and Lake Wabaunsee.

What does curly-leaf pondweed look like?

  • Curly-leaf pondweed is fast growing perennial.
  • The stems are flattened and somewhat branching, 1 to 3 inches long and mostly 1/8 of an inch wide.
  • The leaves are simple, long, narrow and attached directly to the stem.
  • The flowers are brownish and inconspicuous and usually occur from May to October.

Why is curly-leaf pondweed a problem?

  • In the spring, it forms dense mats which interfere with recreation and limit the growth of native aquatic plants. This plant does die back in mid-summer.

How do we control curly-leaf pondweed?

  • Mechanical, biological, and chemical control techniques can be effective.
  • Contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture for specific recommendations.
  • Early detection of isolated populations may help prevent their spread. Your help to report new sightings and to prevent their spread is vital.

What do I do if I discover curly-leaf pondweed?

Images and Recent news

Curly-leaf Pondweed links:

USACE Cury-leaf pondweed facts

USDA Fact Sheet

Wisconsin DNR Curly-leaf pondweed site