Hornwort is a native aquatic plant. Being rootless it floats near the surface of the pond in summer and in winter produces buds (turions) that sink to the bottom of the water that stay there during the winter and form new plants in spring. Hornwort is fast growing and an excellent oxygenating plant. It also has alleopathic qualities meaning it excretes substances that inhibit the growth of phytoplankton and cyanobacteria, but does not affect other plants or animals. Hornwort can also be grown in tropical aquariums.