Hairy Water Clover Plant Care
Marsilea vestita Hook. & Grev.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Marsilea vestita, the hairy water-clover, is a species of largely aquatic fern in the family Marsileaceae. It is native to western and central North America, the Bahamas, Barbuda, and Peru.
Partial shade to full sun
At a glance
How do you care for Hairy Water Clover?
Hairy Water Clover grows best in partial shade to full sun.
Where Is the Hairy Water Clover Native To?
What Is the Hairy Water Clover?
Hairy Water Clover (Marsilea vestita) belongs to the Marsileaceae family within the Marsilea genus. Hairy Water Clover is native to western and central North America, the Bahamas, Barbuda, and Peru. Hairy Water Clover is also known as Hairy Pepperwort.
Hairy Water Clover displays a low rosette, spreading growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Hairy Water Clover produces small inconspicuous sporocarps.
What Light Does the Hairy Water Clover Need?
Hairy Water Clover thrives in partial shade to full sun.
Light Requirement
Partial shade to full sun
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Hairy Water Clover?
Rich, loamy soil with good moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for Hairy Water Clover to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Hairy Water Clover?
Repot every 1-2 years in early spring. 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 Hairy Water Clover?
Hairy Water Clover can be propagated through spores, division of rhizomes. Similar propagation techniques also apply to japanese water clover plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Hairy Water Clover Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Hairy Water Clover, 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 Hairy Water Clover?
Hairy Water Clover is susceptible to snails, slugs, aphids. 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
Hairy Water Clover 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 Marsilea genus — compare its care with other Marsilea species on PlantoScan.
Marsilea is part of the Marsileaceae plant family — browse all Marsileaceae genera and species.
Hairy Water Clover thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Marsilea Species
Other Marsilea species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Marsilea vestita Hook. & Grev., family Marsileaceae (first published in Icon. Filic. 2: t.159 (1830)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Hairy Water Clover, 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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