Noted for its attractive flowers and finely dissected leaves, Cabomba caroliniana (Carolina Watershield) is a submerged aquatic perennial with stems that can reach 6 ft (180 cm). They bear bright green, fan-shaped, deeply dissected leaves up to 1.4 in. across (4 cm) when submerged.
 
The small floating leaves, 0.8 in. (2 cm), are entire and linear with pointed tips. In summer, charming white flowers with yellow centers are produced on long fine stems at the water’s surface.
 
Native to the southeastern United States and South America, Carolina Watershield grows rooted in the mud of stagnant to slow flowing water including streams, smaller rivers, ponds, lakes, reservoirs, sloughs, ditches, and canals. Carolina Watershield is useful as an oxygenator, helps control algae growth and provides a shelter for small fishes and aquatic invertebrates.