Water Cabbage Pistia stratiotes
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PIS-tee-ah stra-tee-OH-tays
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Water lettuce is a floating aquatic poisonous plant. Its leaves spread in a rosette on the water surface, which inhibits algae growth. This spongy, rounded plant has conspicuously indented main veins. It grows in still waters of ponds, ditches, swamps, and slow-moving streams and features feathery roots.
This plant will deplete oxygen levels and kill fish. It forms large dense mats of plant matter which hinders boating, fishing, and other lake and river activities.
This plant can be invasive; remove unwanted growth. It can be very invasive in locations with year-round warm temperatures and high humidity. It is sometimes used in aquariums. In colder climates, it survives by reseeding itself.
Water lettuce is toxic if eaten in large quantities.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant is listed as invasive in NY, WI, CA and FL and is on watch lists in MI and other states
- 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:
- Pistia
- Species:
- stratiotes
- Family:
- Araceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, USA
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Water Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- 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 Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- Inconspicuous fruits
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Insignificant
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spadix
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Description:
- Inconspicuous flowers that grow in the centr of the leaf rosettes. Male flowers surround a female flower
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Soft
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- A roughly 10 in. wide rosette of spongy, velvety, deeply veined lime green leaves that are whitish green on the underside.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- Intense burning and swelling of lips, tongue, and throat. Nausea vomiting and diarrhea may also occur when eaten in large quantities.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Calcium oxalate crystals plus unknown toxins
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Leaves
- Roots
