Parrot Feather

Detected in Southern Michigan

Common Name: Parrot Feather
Scientific Name: Myriophyllum aquaticum

Parrot feather is an aggressive whorled aquatic plant that is similar to watermilfoils, but emergent. Its stems can rise up to 1 foot above water. The plant has feather-like leaves that look comparable to small fir trees. Parrot feather forms dense mats that crowd out native vegetation, clog waterways, and alter drainage. 

Parrot feather grows in the shallows around lakes, ponds, ditches, or streams. As of now, there have been isolated reports of the plant in Wayne and Oakland Counties and Northern Indiana. It originates from the Amazon River Basin and was brought to North America for the water gardening and aquarium trade.

It reproduces only by fragmentation in North America, since there are only female plants here. Fragments are carried by water, boaters, or aquarium and gardening enthusiasts, where they can then spread and grow in a new body of water.

Parrot Feather looks similar to watermilfoils, but the stems of native milfoils and Eurasian watermilfoil rest on the surface of the water and their leaves are shorter and stockier in shape.

Photo credit: Matt Ankney, MDNR l MSU Extension

Image: Michigan.gov

To Report Parrot Feather
If you believe you have found invasive Parrot Feather (or another invasive species), you can report the sighting to Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council at (231) 347-1181 or e-mail [email protected]

MISIN Mobile App Reporting
You may also report invasive species using the free mobile smartphone app from Midwest Invasive Species Information Network (MISIN).