Justicia americana Common names include American Water-willow, Water Willow Water-willow is an herbaceous, aquatic, colony forming flowering plant with underground stems. It features bicolor-flowers white and pink/purple that grow in dense clusters on slender stalks. It will grow in moist soil or in standing water up to 3' deep. Its long, thin leaves are reminiscent of willow leaves. Water-willow will tolerate sandy, loamy, or clay soil, as long as it stays moist. Its root system is highly rhizomatous and can form large colonies that help stabilize banks and shorelines. These colonies provide cover for small fish and other aquatic wildlife. A pollinator magnet and a larval host to the Texan Crescentspot butterfly. Height: 1’-4'Spread: 1.5'-3'Bloom: April-October Light: Full Sun-Dappled ShadeWater: High-AquaticZone: 4-9Origin: Texas, eastern U.S. and Canada Synonymns: Dianthera americana, Justicia mortuifluminis, Justicia umratilis
