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Nymphoides peltata is often confused with:
Hydrocleys nymphoides Form in September in Brazil
Nymphoides cordata Form in bloom
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Iris pseudacorus Form
Lonicera maackii Flower Form
Lythrum salicaria Mass planting
Nymphoides peltata has some other problems:
Weed Management

Nymphoides peltata

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
nym-FOY-deez pel-TAY-ta
This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
Description

Yellow floating heart is a vigrous herbaceous perennial water plant in the Menyanthaceae family native to East Asia and the Mediterranean.  Its leaves float on bodies of water and resemble a small water lily.   This rhizomatous aquatic plant can be  very aggressive.  

It grows in 12 to 24 inches of water in the full sun. It prefers high organic content sandy loam soil like a river bed or bottom of a pond.  If planted be sure to place it in containers to manage its spread.   Plants spread by underwater stems (runners) and can be divided easily that way though it propagates by seed as well.  They overwinter in cold areas at the bottom of bodies of water similar to water lilies.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This is a class A noxious weed in North Carolina. Report any sightings immediately to the NCDA Plant Protection Section at 1-800-206-9333. 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#invasive#yellow flowers#high maintenance#fast growing#aggressive#Noxious Weed (state list)#naturalizes#wet soils tolerant#flood tolerant#weed
 
Nymphoides pelatum
Nymphoides pelatum Tanaka Juuyoh CC BY 2.0
Nymphoides pelatum
Nymphoides pelatum Chris Gladis CC BY 2.0
Nymphoides pelatum
Nymphoides pelatum Karel Jakubec CC BY 2.0
Nymphoides pelatum
Nymphoides pelatum Krzysztof Ziarnek CC BY-SA 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#invasive#yellow flowers#high maintenance#fast growing#aggressive#Noxious Weed (state list)#naturalizes#wet soils tolerant#flood tolerant#weed
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Nymphoides
    Species:
    peltata
    Family:
    Menyanthaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe, Asia
    Distribution:
    US from New England to AZ, CA, WA
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Water Plant
    Weed
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Prostrate
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil Drainage:
    Frequent Standing Water
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Appearing in summer and lasting only one day. Star-shaped bright yellow 3/4" flowers with a 5-lobed corolla that has papery texture. They bloom on long stalks above the leaves. Lobes are fringed.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Other/more complex
    Leaf Shape:
    Orbicular
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Round, to ovate, to heart-shaped 4" leaves slightly dentate, glossy leaves
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Wet Soil
    Problems:
    Invasive Species
    Weedy