Water hyacinth
Pontederia crassipes
Also known as Eichhornia crassipes, Common water hyacinth, Floating water hyacinth, Terror of Bengal
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Invasive. Banned in the EU and prohibited in several US states. Never release into the wild; dispose of plants in the trash.
Care at a glance
- Light
- High light
- CO2
- No CO₂ needed
- Temperature
- 59–86°F
- 15–30°C
- Max height
- 15.7 in
- 40 cm
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Placement
- Floating
- Type
- Floating
- pH
- 6.0–8.0
- Hardness
- 2–18 dGH
- Spread
- 11.8 in (30 cm)
- Nutrient uptake
- Water column
- Growth region
- Submersed or emersed
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Family
- Pontederiaceae
- Origin
- A free floating plant native to the Amazon basin of South America, now spread across warm regions worldwide where it blankets lakes and slow rivers.
Overview
Water hyacinth is an easy, fast-growing floating plant with glossy, rounded leaves. Given light and space, it throws up showy lavender flower spikes.
Did you know
Water hyacinth is nicknamed the terror of Bengal. It can double its numbers in about two weeks.
Caring for water hyacinth
Float water hyacinth on the surface, with no planting and no CO2. It needs strong overhead light and open headroom, so it suits ponds and open-topped tanks more than covered aquariums. In a covered tank it usually stays small.
It feeds from the water and strips nitrate and phosphate as it grows. Its long, feathery dark roots give fry and shrimp cover and a place to spawn. It handles 59 to 86°F (15 to 30°C).
It grows explosively fast, spreading by runners and by budding off new plants. Skim off the extra plants often to stop it from sealing over the surface. It is a prohibited or noxious weed in many US states and countries, so never release it into natural water.
Good to know
Water hyacinth was long placed in the genus Eichhornia and is now classified in Pontederia. Spongy, air-filled tissue packed into its swollen leaf stalks keeps it afloat.
In the wild
Water hyacinth is native to the Amazon basin of South America. It has spread across warm regions worldwide, where it blankets lakes and slow rivers.
Common questions
Does water hyacinth need to be planted in the substrate?
No. Water hyacinth floats at the surface and takes its nutrients straight from the water.
Does water hyacinth need CO2?
No. Water hyacinth grows well without added CO2.
How much light does water hyacinth need?
Water hyacinth needs high light from a strong planted-tank LED.
How do you propagate water hyacinth?
Water hyacinth propagates by runners and division. New plants form along its runners and break away to float on their own. Each plant buds off new ones, so a few soon cover the surface.
