Little Floatingheart Nymphoides cordata
Previously known as:
- Nymphoides lacunosa
- Villarsia lacunosa
- Description
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Little floatingheart is a freshwater aquatic plant with delicate white flowers in the Menyanthaceae (buckbean) family. It is found in quiet flowing rivers, streams, and lakes from Canada to FL and primarily in the Sandhills of NC.
The heart-shaped leaves are green to mottled with red and the undersides are reddish-purple in color. The white flowers appear in summer and are held above the foliage. The plant has clusters of thick roots that float in the water in addition to underground rhizomes.
Use this plant in freshwater ponds or streams. It needs to be submerged in water in full to partial sun conditions. It can also be grown in a pot and submerged in a large tub.
Little floatingheart is a much better choice than the non-native invasive yellow flowering plant, N. peltata.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. The plant is endangered or imperiled in some areas of the USA and Canada.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Nymphoides
- Species:
- cordata
- Family:
- Menyanthaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used by Native Americans medicinally
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern U.S.A. and Canada
- Distribution:
- AL , CT , DE , FL , GA , LA , MA , MD , ME , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , PA , RI , SC , VT. Canada: NB , NL , NS , PE
- Wildlife Value:
- Submerged portions of all aquatic plants provide habitats for many micro and macro invertebrates which in turn provide food fo other aquatic wildlife
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heat and drought tolerant.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Water Plant
- Habit/Form:
- Horizontal
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The capsule splits open to release seeds from May to September.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are white to cream with a yellow center and 5 petals. They are around 1/2 inch wide and bloom from April to August.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are cordate-ovate, 1 1/4 – 2 3/4 inches long, often variegated with reddish-purple above, underside smooth and reddish
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are often much elongated, green, and very slender. Erect green flower stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
