Featherfoil Plant Care
Hottonia inflata Elliott
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Hottonia inflata, the American featherfoil or featherfoil, is an aquatic plant in the family Primulaceae.
Every 2–3 days
Partial shade to full sun, depending on species
50–80°F
60–80%
At a glance
How do you care for Featherfoil?
Water Featherfoil every 2–3 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it partial shade to full sun, depending on species. It prefers temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C) and 60–80% humidity. Fertilize it every 4 months during the growing season.
What Is the Featherfoil?
Featherfoil (Hottonia inflata) belongs to the Primulaceae family within the Hottonia genus. Featherfoil is also known as American Featherfoil.
Featherfoil displays an aquatic or semi-aquatic perennial herb growth habit, reaching up to 1 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Featherfoil produces delicate spikes of small, white or pink flowers.
Leaf size: approximately 3 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Featherfoil?
Hottonia inflata requires watering every 2–3 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 2–3 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Featherfoil Need?
Featherfoil thrives in partial shade to full sun, depending on species.
Light Requirement
Partial shade to full sun, depending on species
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Featherfoil Prefer?
Hottonia inflata grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Featherfoil prefers humidity levels of 60–80%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
60–80%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Featherfoil?
Rich, moist soil with good drainage to mimic its natural wetland habitat. Good drainage is essential for Featherfoil to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Featherfoil?
Feed Featherfoil every 4 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 4 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Featherfoil?
Divide and repot every 2-3 years to prevent overcrowding. 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 Featherfoil?
Featherfoil can be propagated through seeds, division of rhizomes. Similar propagation techniques also apply to water violet plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Featherfoil Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Featherfoil, 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 Featherfoil?
Featherfoil is susceptible to aphids, slugs, snails. 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.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Featherfoil Need?
Featherfoil grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Featherfoil as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Featherfoil 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 Hottonia genus — compare its care with other Hottonia species on PlantoScan.
Hottonia is part of the Primulaceae plant family — browse all Primulaceae genera and species.
Featherfoil 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: Hottonia inflata Elliott, family Primulaceae (first published in Sketch Bot. S. Carolina 1: 231 (1817)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Featherfoil, 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.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- 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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