American Water-Willow
(Justicia americana)
American Water-Willow (Justicia americana)
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Michelle W.
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Michelle W.
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Michelle W. | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Michelle W. | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2021-04-18T05:15:52-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Justicia americana, commonly known as American Water-Willow, is a deciduous perennial herb native to riparian zones, lake shores, and stream banks in the Eastern and Central United States and Ontario. It thrives in shallow water or wet soils, often forming dense colonies. This species typically grows up to 40 cm (16 in) tall from a creeping rhizome. The flowers are bicolored, arranged oppositely on spikes 3 cm (1.2 in) long, emanating from a peduncle 10 cm (3.9 in) long. The blooms range from white to pale lavender, with the upper corolla lip pale violet or white, arching over the lower lip which is mottled with dark purple. Flowering occurs from June to September, and the flowers are highly attractive to pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
American Water-Willow is valued for its ability to stabilize shorelines and provide habitat for aquatic wildlife. It is used in water gardens, naturalized pond edges, and for streambank restoration. The plant is winter-hardy to USDA zone 4, making it suitable for a range of temperate climates. In cultivation, it prefers full sun to part shade and can tolerate a variety of water conditions, from standing water to moderately moist soil. While generally low-maintenance, it can spread aggressively in ideal conditions, potentially outcompeting other shoreline plants.CC BY-SA 4.0
American Water-Willow is valued for its ability to stabilize shorelines and provide habitat for aquatic wildlife. It is used in water gardens, naturalized pond edges, and for streambank restoration. The plant is winter-hardy to USDA zone 4, making it suitable for a range of temperate climates. In cultivation, it prefers full sun to part shade and can tolerate a variety of water conditions, from standing water to moderately moist soil. While generally low-maintenance, it can spread aggressively in ideal conditions, potentially outcompeting other shoreline plants.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 1-3 feet
- Width: 0.167-0.5 feet
- Growth Rate: Rapid
- Flower Color: Purple, White
- Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Hummingbird Garden, Potted Plant, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Water Garden
Natural Habitat
Native to riparian zones, lake shores, and stream banks
Other Names
Common Names:
Scientific Names: , Justicia americana, Dianthera americana, Justicia pedunculosa, Justicia mortuifluminis, Justicia americana var. subcoriacea, Dianthera americana var. subcoriacea, Justicia americana var. americana, Justicia umbratilis, Dianthera ensiformis
GBIF Accepted Name: Justicia americana (L.) Vahl