Water Shield Plant Care
Brasenia schreberi J.F.Gmel.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Brasenia is a genus belonging to the family Cabombaceae, consisting of one species, Brasenia schreberi, commonly known as watershield. It is widely distributed in North America, the West Indies, northern South America, eastern Asia, Australia, the Indian subcontinent, and parts of Africa.
Full sun to partial shade
At a glance
How do you care for Water Shield?
Water Shield grows best in full sun to partial shade.
What Is the Water Shield?
Water Shield (Brasenia schreberi) belongs to the Cabombaceae family within the Brasenia genus. Water Shield is also known as Watershield, Purple Teardrop.
Water Shield displays a floating aquatic plant growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Water Shield produces small inconspicuous flowers held above the water surface.
What Light Does the Water Shield Need?
Water Shield thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Water Shield?
Rich loamy soil with high organic content and good moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for Water Shield to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Water Shield?
Does not require potting as it is a floating aquatic plant. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Water Shield?
Water Shield can be propagated through seeds, division of rhizomes.
Is the Water Shield Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Water Shield, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Water Shield?
Water Shield is susceptible to water lily leaf beetle, aquatic moth larvae. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Water Shield is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Brasenia genus — compare its care with other Brasenia species on PlantoScan.
Brasenia is part of the Cabombaceae plant family — browse all Cabombaceae genera and species.
Water Shield thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Brasenia schreberi J.F.Gmel., family Cabombaceae (first published in Syst. Nat. ed. 13[bis] : 853 (1791)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Water Shield, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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