Common Water Starwort Plant Care
Callitriche palustris L.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Callitriche palustris, the vernal water-starwort, narrow-fruited water-starwort, or spiny water starwort, is a species of aquatic plants. It is the type species of its genus.
Full sun to part shade
At a glance
How do you care for Common Water Starwort?
Common Water Starwort grows best in full sun to part shade.
What Is the Common Water Starwort?
Common Water Starwort (Callitriche palustris) belongs to the Plantaginaceae family within the Callitriche genus. Common Water Starwort is also known as Marsh Water Starwort, Vernal Water Starwort.
Common Water Starwort displays an aquatic, submerged or floating growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Common Water Starwort produces small inconspicuous flowers.
What Light Does the Common Water Starwort Need?
Common Water Starwort thrives in full sun to part shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to part shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Common Water Starwort?
Moist, rich soil with good drainage. Good drainage is essential for Common Water Starwort to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Common Water Starwort?
Can be grown in aquatic containers or ponds. 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 Common Water Starwort?
Common Water Starwort can be propagated through seeds, division. Similar propagation techniques also apply to autumnal water starwort plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Common Water Starwort Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Common Water Starwort, 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 Common Water Starwort?
Common Water Starwort is susceptible to no common pests known. 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
Common Water Starwort 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 Callitriche genus — compare its care with other Callitriche species on PlantoScan.
Callitriche is part of the Plantaginaceae plant family — browse all Plantaginaceae genera and species.
Common Water Starwort thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Callitriche Species
Other Callitriche species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Callitriche palustris L., family Plantaginaceae (first published in Sp. Pl. : 969 (1753)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Common Water Starwort, 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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