Floating Heart Nymphoides peltata
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- nym-FOY-deez pel-TAY-ta
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
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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:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Water Plant
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Prostrate
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
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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
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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.
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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
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Weedy
