Hydrilla sp.
Family: Hydrocharitaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Hydrilla sp. is a non-native California perennial in the Hydrocharitaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Elodea: Hydrilla has 4-8 leaves per whorl consistently; Elodea has 2-3 leaves low on stem, 3-7 higher up.; vs Najas: Hydrilla has prickly bumps on leaf midrib; Najas midrib is smooth (teeth only on leaf edges).; vs Egeria: Hydrilla leaves are small (under 1.5 cm) with many per whorl; Egeria has much larger leaves (1.2-4 cm).; vs Ottelia: Hydrilla is submerged with whorled narrow leaves; Ottelia has floating rosettes and large showy flowers.; vs Limnobium: Hydrilla is completely submerged with whorled leaves; Limnobium has round floating leaves above water.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hydrilla sp. native to California?
No. Hydrilla sp. is not native to California (recorded as not native).
What plant family does Hydrilla sp. belong to?
Hydrilla sp. is in the Hydrocharitaceae family, genus Hydrilla.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.