Water Hyacinth

Water hyacinth is a popular water garden plant because of the beauty of its large, purple to violet flowers and its interesting floating vegetation.  Koi and other Pond fish love to eat the roots that hang from this free floating pond plant. Although water hyacinth are considered annuals in most zones They can survive California winters if covered on cold winter nights. But most people will just replace them each year.

 Growth Habit of water hyacinth

Water hyacinth is a free-floating plant that gets its nutrients from the water from dangling roots. The plant reproduces by seeds and vegetatively through daughter plants that form on rhizomes and produce dense plant beds. In one study, two plants produced 1,200 daughter plants in four months. By this mechanism, water hyacinth can form impenetrable mats of floating vegetation. Individual plants break off the mat and can be dispersed by wind and water currents. A single plant can produce as many as 5,000 seeds and waterfowl eat and transport seeds to new locations. Seedlings are common on mud banks exposed by low water levels

Water hyacinth is a free-floating perennial plant that can grow to a height of 3 feet. The dark green leave blades are circular to elliptical in shape attached to a spongy, inflated petiole. Underneath the water is a thick, heavily branched, dark fibrous root system. The water hyacinth has striking light blue to violet flowers located on a terminal spike. Water hyacinth is a very aggressive invader and can form thick mats. If these mats cover the entire surface of the pond they can cause oxygen depletion’s and fish kills. Water hyacinths should be controlled so they do not cover the entire pond.

Submerged portions of all aquatic plants provide habitats for many micro and macro invertebrates. These invertebrates in turn are used as food by fish and other wildlife species (e.g. amphibians, reptiles, ducks, etc.). After aquatic plants die, their decomposition by bacteria and fungi provides food (called “detritus” for many aquatic invertebrates. Water hyacinth has no known direct food value to wildlife and is considered a pest species.

If you have any questions about other Pond Plants, Water Lilies, Bog Plants or have questions about getting the right pond plants for your pond, please visit our full service Pond Supply store or call Sunland Water Gardens @ 818-353-5131

If you have any questions about other Pond Plants, Water Lilies, Bog Plants or have questions about getting the right pond plants for your pond, please visit our full service Pond Supply store or call Sunland Water Gardens @ 818-353-5131

Pond Supplies: Aquatic plants: floating pond plant: Water Hyacinth
Source: Sunland Water Gardens
Author: Jacklyn Rodman
Also See: Aquatic Plants; Bog Plants
Aquatic Plants / Bog Plants / Water Hyacinth

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Aquatic Plants /Floating Pond Plants

Aquatic plants: Floating Pond Plants: Water Hyacinth