Eastern Forest Threat Center - Carolina Fanwort

Search Again

State Information

Select a state,
then click a link.

  • State Forest Agency
  • State Cooperative Extension

County/Parish Information

Select a county,
then click a link.


Carolina fanwort

Carolina fanwort

Troy Evans, Bugwood.org

Carolina Fanwort
Cabomba caroliniana

Carolina fanwort, native to South America, was introduced into the U.S. as an aquarium plant.

Keywords: Cabombaceae, herbaceous, perennial, aquatic, submersed leaves, floating leaves, stem fragments, fragile rhizomes, large clones, dense stands

Distribution Map Distribution Source Image

Threat Description

Carolina fanwort is an herbaceous perennial aquatic plant with long, branched stems and fibrous roots. It has fan-like underwater leaves of two types: submersed and floating. The submersed leaves are frequently divided and arranged oppositely or in whorls along the stem. The floating leaves are about 2 in. across, diamond-shaped, and infrequent. White to pink to purplish flowers grow on stalks arising from the tips of the stems and bloom May to September. The plant spreads primarily by stem fragments or rhizomes. Rhizomes are fragile and easily broken, facilitating vegetative spread and transport to new water bodies. Erect shoots are upturned extensions of horizontal rhizomes. This species forms large clones as new rhizomes and floating shoots arise as auxiliary branches. Carolina fanwort generally grows in 3-10 ft. of water with low pH. Plants grow rooted in the mud of stagnant to slow flowing water, including quiet streams, smaller rivers, lakes, ponds, sloughs, and ditches. Once established, the dense growth of this plant can impede water flow and clog drainage of canals and freshwater streams. It can form dense stands, crowding out previously well-established plants.