Potamogeton crispus is widely used in submerged macrophyte restoration in China. Turions are an important means of reproduction in this species. To compare the regeneration abilities of P. crispus turions in macrophyte- and phytoplankton-dominated lakes, we collected P. crispus turions from a macrophyte-dominated lake (Liangzi Lake) and a phytoplankton-dominated lake (Taihu Lake). Both lakes are important lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China. Our field survey revealed that the turions from the phytoplankton-dominated lake had smaller sizes and higher concentrations of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) than did those from the macrophyte-dominated lake. Rapid sprouting of the turions from the phytoplankton-dominated lake in 32 days was observed under experimental conditions, although the sprout sizes (heights and biomass) were smaller than those from the macrophyte-dominated lake. Compared with sprouted turions from macrophyte-dominated lake, the sprouted turions from the phytoplankton-dominated lake accumulated higher soluble sugar (SS) but lower starch and free amino acid (FAA) concentrations. A 12-day interval sprout removal treatment significantly stimulated the re-sprouting of turions from both lakes, but scale-leaf-removal treatments had no effect. This study provides evidence that the regeneration strategies of P. crispus turions differ in macrophyte- and phytoplankton-dominated lakes.