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Chinese Water-chestnut, European Water-chestnut, Water-caltrop

Trapa natans

Found in farm ponds and other stagnant or slow-moving water. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you

-30
Harmful

Not native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 18%

Soil moisture
Moist to wet

Do not plant. Listed invasive in Virginia.

At a glance

Not yet recorded · Height · Spread · Light · Life cycle · Leaves · Bloom

This plant is missing most of its facts, so Quercus is looking them up in old botany books.

Recorded in 3 Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Ponds, lakes and their shores

Yellow butterwort beside a moss-hung coastal pond
Regional / representative. Shown: Southern coastal pond margins, Florida and Louisiana to North Carolina; state not identified, a neighboring state.Yellow butterwort beside a moss-hung coastal pond, Marian Ellis Rowan, 1901. Public domain. Source record.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

—CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
—Specialist beesPollen specialists
—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Family not recorded

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Conservation status

Virginia rankSNA
Global rankNot available
VA statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source

Native alternatives

Find natives for your garden

Sources