Potamogeton natans
Floating-leaved pondweed
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Family: Potamogetonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Potamogeton natans (Floating-leaved pondweed) is a native California herb in the Potamogetonaceae family, recognized by only obvious floating leaves with lobed bases and light petiole tips distinctive.
Floating-leaved pondweed is a California native perennial found in coastal, northern California, Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley, San Francisco Bay, Santa Barbara, Peninsular Ranges, and Modoc Plateau regions in shallow fresh or brackish water habitats including lakes, ponds, bogs, marshes, and streams at elevations up to 2,700 meters. Flowering from June to August, this aquatic plant produces small, inconspicuous green flowers in compact inflorescences less than 5 centimeters long. Growing with submerged stems up to 160 centimeters long, it develops both underwater and floating leaves in distinctive forms. Its underwater leaves are thin and linear, while floating leaves are broader, oblong to elliptical, 6 to 11 centimeters long with 17 to 37 visible veins and rounded tips. The plant produces small fruits 3.5 to 5 millimeters long with slightly concave sides.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; only obvious floating leaves with lobed bases and light petiole tips distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Shallow, fresh or brackish water, lakes, ponds, bogs, marshes, lagoons, streams
Elevation: < 2700 m
California counties: Humboldt, Plumas, Fresno, Lassen, Tulare, Tuolumne, Modoc, Sonoma, Sierra, Lake, El Dorado, Santa Clara, Mendocino, Inyo, Tehama, San Luis Obispo, Madera, Mono, Butte, Mariposa, Placer, San Bernardino, San Mateo, Siskiyou, Nevada, Trinity, Colusa, Yuba, Santa Cruz, Marin, Santa Barbara
Outside California: to Alaska, eastern North America, Baja California, Eurasia
Bloom period
Potamogeton natans blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Persicaria: Potamogeton flowers float on water; Persicaria has terrestrial pink/white flower spikes above solid ground.; vs Stuckenia: Potamogeton flowers emerge above water on stiff stalks; Stuckenia flowers stay underwater on flexible stalks.; vs Alisma: Potamogeton has inconspicuous spike flowers; Alisma has showy white three-petaled flowers in branched clusters.; vs Ranunculus: Potamogeton has tiny greenish spike flowers; Ranunculus has bright yellow buttercup flowers with visible petals.; vs Myriophyllum: Potamogeton has broad or ribbon-like leaves; Myriophyllum has feathery, finely divided leaves like a bottlebrush.
Frequently asked questions
Is Potamogeton natans native to California?
Yes. Potamogeton natans is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Potamogeton natans bloom?
Potamogeton natans blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Potamogeton natans grow?
Potamogeton natans occurs in Humboldt, Plumas, Fresno, Lassen, Tulare, Tuolumne, Modoc, Sonoma and other counties, at elevations of < 2700 m.
What plant family does Potamogeton natans belong to?
Potamogeton natans is in the Potamogetonaceae family, genus Potamogeton.
What habitat does Potamogeton natans grow in?
Potamogeton natans grows in Shallow, fresh or brackish water, lakes, ponds, bogs, marshes, lagoons, streams.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.