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Water Hyacinth

Eichhornia crassipes

Non-Native

Water Hyacinth Locations in North America
Water Hyacinth Locations in Southeast US
water hyacinth drawing

water hyacinth flower
close up water hyacinth

Water hyacinth covering large area
Close up water hyacinth leaves
Uprooted water hyacinth

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
Illustration courtesy of University of Florida/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. Used with permission.

What is Water Hyacinth?

Overview

Physical Characteristics

Leaves:

  • Under water: long and thin
  • Above water: wide, usually spongy

Body:

  • Floating plant

Flowers:

  • Slightly 2-lipped
  • 6 stamen
  • Long anthers attached near the base
  • Showy, light blue to bluish purple
  • 1.5 to 2.25 inches long and wide

Roots:

  • Roots at end of leaves

Where Does it Grow?

Non-Native

Water hyacinth is native to South America, but has naturalized much of the Southern U.S. It grows in ponds, streams, and ditches.

Is it Invasive?

Water hyacinth is non-native to North America. Water hyacinth is a very aggressive invader and can form thick mats. If these mats cover the entire surface of the pond, they can cause oxygen depletion and fish kills. Water hyacinth should be controlled so they do not cover the entire pond.

This is a non-native plant that should not be grown as it is invasive and illegal to possess or transport this species in Texas. Please report sightings to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at (512) 389-4800.

How to Manage This Plant
Plant Glossary
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Photo Credits: The majority of the aquatic plant line drawings are the copyright of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). They are used with permission.

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

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