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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Zostera is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). It is in flower from June to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Water.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It can grow in water.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[177, 256]. The leaf bases are crisp and sweet, they were often used as a feast food by the native North American Indians[256]. Seed[177]. No more details are given. The root of the plant is chewed for its saccharine juice[2, 105]. The root is crisp and sweet, it was used as a flavouring by the native North American Indians and was also dried for winter food[256]. The raw rhizomes were often used as a feast food[256].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

The leaves are used in the treatment of dropsy, goitre and women's illnesses[218].

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

The dried leaves and stems are used as a packing material[46, 61, 66, 100]. The plant is frequently used as a manure[2].

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A plant of shallow sea water, it is not really suitable for normal cultivation.

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Division.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Egypt (Sinai), Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Georgia, Russian Federation (Habarovskij kraj, Primorye, Kamcatskij kraj, Magadanskaja oblast, Sakhalin) NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Yukon (southwest), Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario (northeast), Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, British Columbia (west)), United States (Alaska, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Oregon (west), Washington (west), Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia (east), California), Mexico (Baja California (Norte), Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, Sonora) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Russian Federation (European part), Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece (incl. Crete), Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Montenegro, Romania, Slovenia, Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Algeria (north), Morocco

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Phyllospadix scouleri	Surf Grass, Scouler's surfgrass	Perennial	0.1	0-0	LMH	N	WeWa	2	0
Phyllospadix torreyi	Sea Grass, Torrey's surfgrass	Perennial	2.0	0-0	LMH	N	WeWa	2	0	1
Zostera marina	Eel Grass, Seawrack	Perennial	1.0	0-0	LM	N	Wa	2	1	2

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Zostera - L.