Narrow Leaf Anacharis (Egeria najas)

Narrow Leaf Anacharis (Egeria najas)

Narrow leaf anacharis is an excellent submerged oxygenating plant. It closely resembles the common anacharis Egeria densa, but the narrow leaf species usually has 5 leaves per node, while common anacharis usually has 4. Given its name, it should surprise no one that narrow leaf anacharis also has narrower leaves; these leaves are more obviously serrated, and the plant tends to branch more. This gives narrow leaf anacharis a frillier, fuller look. Regular anacharis is also more winter hardy than narrow leaf anacharis; for USDA hardiness zones colder than Z7, we recommend hornwort instead of narrow leaf anacharis.

In warm weather narrow leaf anacharis grows quickly underwater; it will be dense in high light, and much looser in low light. It seldom develops roots, so it is not necessary or even desirable to pot it--like other submerged pond plants, it absorbs nutrients from the water and is especially good at keeping water clear. When first placed in a pond it may have a tendency to float at the surface, but usually loses buoyancy and soon takes up residence close to the bottom. To prevent drying or sunburning when first introduced, one could fluff the plants apart and loosely anchor a few pieces in soil on the pond bottom or in a pot, but do not plant deeply or tightly close together. Baby fish love to hide in this submerged plant.

Use one bunch for every 2 square feet of surface area. Anacharis usually stays near the bottom except when there is not enough light, or when it becomes crowded; then it stays closer to the surface. 

Anacharis may also be used in aquariums, and the narrow leaf species tolerates the hiher temperatures of an aquarium better than the other species.

Note: Narrow leaf anacharis is not legal in California. For California residents, we recommend using hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) instead. We do not offer the regular anacharis (Egeria densa) because that is not legal in AL, CT, CO, ID, IN, IL, MA, ME, MI, MS, NE, NH, NY, OH, OR, PR, SC, VT, WA, and WI (too much for us to keep up with!)--anyone in those states should look at either hornwort or narrow leaf anacharis as options.

Minimum purchase of 5. Because narrow leaf anacharis is highly branched, we sell it by the cup rather than by the strand, so one plant equals one cup.

Hardiness Zone: 7-11
Light Requirements: Full Sun to part shade
Height: submerged
Water Depth: 1' - 15', so long as water is clear enough for light to penetrate. Narrow leaf anacharis is tolerant of low light conditions.

Available beginning in May