TankBud

Myriophyllum Snowflake

Myriophyllum quitense

Also known as Myriophyllum elatinoides, Myriophyllum elatinoides Snowflake, Myriophyllum sp. Snowflake

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Myriophyllum Snowflake (Myriophyllum quitense)
DaniGaranzini · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
64–82°F
18–28°C
Max height
23.6 in
60 cm
Growth rate
Fast
Placement
Background
Type
Stem
pH
5.5–7.5
Hardness
2–12 dGH
Spread
2 in (5 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Haloragaceae
Origin
South America (Andes); scattered populations in western North America

Overview

Myriophyllum Snowflake is an easy, fast-growing milfoil that forms a feathery bush in the background.

Did you know

The species name of Myriophyllum Snowflake, quitense, means from Quito. The plant was first described from Andean collections near the Ecuadorian capital. That mountain heritage is why it tolerates cool water so well.

Caring for Myriophyllum Snowflake

Strip the leaves from the lower part of each stem first. Plant the stems a couple of centimeters apart in a nutrient-rich substrate, toward the back of the tank.

Myriophyllum Snowflake wants medium light or better. Its frosted tips show best under stronger light with CO2, though neither is needed for plain healthy growth. It feeds through its roots and from the water, so add a liquid fertilizer to the rich substrate.

It grows fast to about 24 in (60 cm), so trim it often. Every cut top replants, and trimming forces the side shoots that make it dense. It handles cooler water than most stems, from 64 to 82°F (18 to 28°C), and does fine in unheated tanks.

The fine foliage catches debris. Keep the flow decent and the mulm down.

Good to know

Myriophyllum Snowflake is a water milfoil in the family Haloragaceae, described by Kunth from Ecuador. Myriophyllum elatinoides is treated as a synonym, and it is the name the trade prefers. Whorls of finely divided, feather-like leaves ring each stem. The pale, silvery-green new growth at the tips is the trait the Snowflake selection is sold on.

In the wild

Myriophyllum quitense grows in cool, clear lakes, streams and Andean waterways from Ecuador south through South America. Scattered populations also live in western North America. It is amphibious, growing submersed in deeper water and creeping emersed on wet margins, and a fully terrestrial form is documented from Bolivia.

Common questions

Does Myriophyllum Snowflake need to be planted in the substrate?

Yes. Strip the leaves from the lower part of each stem, then push the stems into the substrate one at a time, a little apart.

Does Myriophyllum Snowflake need CO2?

No, but it helps. Myriophyllum Snowflake can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does Myriophyllum Snowflake need?

Myriophyllum Snowflake wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.

Does Myriophyllum Snowflake need root tabs?

They help. Myriophyllum Snowflake takes nutrients through both its roots and its leaves. Root tabs near its roots and a liquid fertilizer cover both.

How do you propagate Myriophyllum Snowflake?

Myriophyllum Snowflake propagates by cuttings and side shoots. Cut off the top of a stem and replant it, and the stump left behind grows new shoots. Cut a side shoot off once it has a few leaves and plant it on its own.

How tall does Myriophyllum Snowflake grow?

Myriophyllum Snowflake grows to about 23.6 in (60 cm) tall. It grows fast, so expect to trim it often.

Related plants