Hornwort Pond Plant - Care & Grow Guide
by Tory Jon | Last Updated: November 16, 2022
Pond Academy is reader-supported. Buying through links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Hornwort, also known as coon’s tail, is a plant that originated in North America, but nowadays, it can be found all over the world. It features long stems covered with thin needles, resembling a raccoon's tail, from which it derives its nickname.
One of the best things about this plant is that it can thrive under almost any conditions, from tropical to polluted waters, full sun to full shade, and it's especially hardy even in cold temperatures.
Hornwort not only helps oxygenate pond water, but it also helps kill algae by releasing special chemicals using a process called plant allelopathy.
Scientific Name
Ceratophyllum Demersum
Common Names
Coontail (or coon's tail) and rigid hornwort
Plant Type
Submerged pond plant
Light Requirements
Full sun to Full Shade
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zone 5 - 11
Bloom
Early June through late August
Grow Up To
10 ft.
Flower Color
Dark green to brown
How to Plant Hornwort in a Pond
To plant Hornwort in a pond, attach weights to the bunch and submerge them in the pond. The weights ensure the plants sink to the bottom of the pond, from where they grow upwards to the surface. You can also tuck the plant's stems into the bottom sediment of your pond. It is best to anchor the plants in 1-2 inches of the substrate so they don't float back to the surface.
Hornwort thrives in various planting media – aquarium gravel, muck, loam, or aquatic soil.
For best results, ensure a minimum spacing of 1 inch among Hornwort plants. This will prevent any direct nutrient competition among them.
Get Our Best Pond Tips Sent to Your Inbox for Free!
Join thousands of others and learn from our decades of pond building and maintenance experience! Your pond will thank you!
By subscribing you agree to receive emails from PondAcademy.com. We will always respect your privacy and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Hornwort Care Guide
Hornwort is fairly low maintenance and only requires regular trimming to keep it at your desired size. Be sure to remove and properly discard any clippings away from the water, so they don't unintentionally spread and grow throughout your pond.
Keep in mind, Hornwort may lose needles during the first couple of weeks after planting, so you may need to remove the debris from your pond or clean your filter a little more often. Luckily, if you have pond fish, they may help keep your pond clean during this period by eating the plant droppings.
To overwinter Hornwort in colder climates, you can take the plants indoors and allow them to grow in an aquarium or tub (ensure they get ample light). Or simply allow them to die off and replant in Spring.
Hornwort Care Card
Download our free printable care card for the Hornwort plant! Click the care card below and save the PDF file to your computer. You can easily print off the 3x5 care card or access it right from your phone. Get all the important information you need to keep your Hornwort plants healthy and happy!
Plus, we provide a blank card for you to print and fill out yourself. Print it as many times as you like to create cards for all your plants!
Pond Plant Care Card Set
%20in%20a%20pond!%20Plus,%20learn%20how%20to%20properly%20care%20for%20Hornwort%20throughout%20the%20year%20and%20much%20more!){kind=link}