Perennial•USDA: MAMA9•PLANTED: SPRING 2025•
Bigfoot Waterclover
Marsilea macropoda
FAMILY: Marsileaceae ((Water Clover Family)ALSO KNOWN AS:
Water-cloverClover-fernLargefoot Pepperwort
A standout species for Texas gardens, Bigfoot Waterclover (Marsilea macropoda) is a deciduous plant native across the East Central Texas Plains, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, and Texas Blackland Prairies. It features distinctive green foliage.
During No bloom, the plant produces no bloom blooms.
It provides essential nectar, shelter, or forage for native wildlife, including Birds and Small Mammals.
Thriving in clay, loam, moist, mud, poor drainage, and sand, Bigfoot Waterclover demonstrates outstanding hardiness once established. It requires minimal supplemental water and tolerates dry spells with ease. It offers moderate deer resistance.
Bigfoot Waterclover
Marsilea macropoda
NATIVE RANGE // EPA & NPSOT
Texas Native Ecoregions19 REGIONS
[ INITIALIZING GEOSPATIAL MAP DATA... ]
East Central Texas Plains, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies
SOURCE: US EPA L3/L4 ECOREGIONS • NPSOT VERIFIED30.1727° N, 98.0873° W (DRIPPING SPRINGS, TX)
GROWTH & VISUAL PROFILEPerennial • Ferns & Allies, Wetland
↕HEIGHT
.25 ft.
↔SPREAD
1 ft.
🌱GROWTH
Moderate
🍂FOLIAGE
Deciduous
BLOOM COLOR
No Bloom
BLOOM CALENDARNo Bloom (0 MO)
JANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDEC
BOTANICAL ALIASES & ALTERNATE NAMES3 ALIASES
Water-cloverClover-fernLargefoot Pepperwort
ECOLOGICAL ROLE & WILDLIFE
ATTRACTS & SUPPORTS
BirdsSmall Mammals
Recognized for providing nectar and forage for native Texas pollinators.
WATER NEEDMedium, High (Drought Tolerant)
VL
LOW
MOD
HIGH
SOLAR NEEDSun, Part Shade
SHADE
PART SHADE
PART SUN
FULL SUN
SUBSTRATE & SOILpH: Neutral to Alkaline
ClayLoamMoistMudPoor DrainageSand
⚠️ BOTANICAL SAFETY NOTICE
Non-toxic to humans, birds, and domestic animals.
MAINTENANCE & PROPAGATION
Low maintenance once established.