Sparganium angustifolium, commonly known as Floating Bur-Reed, is an aquatic perennial herb that is native to cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, and Asia. It is typically found in shallow, acidic, low-nutrient freshwater bodies such as ponds, lakes, slow-moving streams, and marshes. Floating Bur-Reed can grow in water up to 8 feet deep and often forms dense mats on the water surface. This plant reaches lengths that can exceed two meters, with long, narrow, flattened leaves that float on the water’s surface. The spherical male and female inflorescences are greenish-brown and not particularly showy, but they are distinctive and add textural interest to water gardens.

Floating Bur-Reed is valued for its ability to provide habitat for aquatic wildlife and for its use in water purification within garden ponds and natural water bodies. It is often used in naturalistic water features and for erosion control along water edges. In cultivation, it requires an aquatic environment and can tolerate a range of light conditions from full sun to partial shade. While it is not prone to many diseases, care should be taken to manage its growth as it can become invasive in some conditions, potentially outcompeting native species.CC BY-SA 4.0