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Anchored water hyacinth; Water hyacinth, floating

(Eichhornia azurea); (Eichhornia crassipes)

Photo of water hyacinth
Photo credit: W. Robles, MSU, Bugwood.org

A floating perennial herb that is native to South America introduced as an ornamental into the United States in 1884. It can grow quickly, forming dense mats that restrict light to the underwater environment.

Overview

Other names for this plant include:
  • Common names: water orchid, floating water hyacinth
  • Scientific names: Pontederia crassipes, Eichhornia speciosa
Ecological threat:
  • It invades freshwater lakes, reservoirs, ponds, marshes and ditches making boating, fishing and almost all other water activities difficult.
  • Degrades water quality by blocking the air-water interface and greatly reducing oxygen levels in the water, impacting underwater animals such as fish.
  • Greatly reduces biological diversity: mats block sunlight, preventing the growth of submerged and emersed plant communities and also alter animal communities by blocking access to the water and/or reducing plants the animals depend on for shelter and nesting.
 Overview map of prohibited classification in WI
Prohibited (red) counties

Classification in Wisconsin: Prohibited

Species Assessment Groups (SAG) were assembled to recommend a legal classification for each species considered for NR 40. The recommendation for water hyacinth was based upon these literature reviews: Eichhornia azurea [PDF], Eichhornia crassipes [PDF].

Identification

Leaves: Thick green waxy leaves, rounded, circular or elliptical in shape with gently incurved sides. Leaves are formed in rosettes and get to be 6” wide and can rise between 1-3 feet above the water.

Flowers: Lavender blue with a yellow blotch. Flowers have 6 petals and are 2 inches wide.

Fruits & seeds: Three celled capsules with many seeds.

Roots: Submersed roots blue-black to dark purple, feathery, dense near root crown, tips with long dark root caps.

Similar species: May be confused with the emergent form of frog's-bit, Limnobium spongia.

Distribution

See the reported locations of water hyacinth in Wisconsin.

Do you know of additional populations? Send us a report.

Control

Mechanical: Very small populations can be controlled by pulling. Physical removal should be completed before the flowering and seed set.

Chemical: Registered aquatic herbicides can provide temporary control of water hyacinth in small scale applications. 2,4 D or glyphosate can be effective. The application of aquatic herbicide requires a permit.

Biological: Biological control options: Neochetina eichhorniae, N. bruchi (weevils), and Niphograpta albiguttalis (moth larvae) have been used in tropical and subtropical populations. No known biological controls have been tested in Wisconsin.

Photos

View water hyacinth pictures in our photo gallery!

Resources

Sources for content: Links for more information: