Yellow Floating Heart
Nymphoides peltata
Washington State Classification
Class B — Control Required (Designated)
Yellow floating heart is a popular garden ornamental that appears to be an aggressive grower, forming dense mats of vegetation in water.
Required control in Region 1 (all western Washington counties)
Quick Reference
Identification
Growth Habit
It is an aquatic, bottom-rooted perennial with long branched stolons extending up to 3 feet or more and creeping rhizomes. Leaves are on stalks and are floating on the water’s surface. Flowers are on stalks and grow just above the water’s surface.
Leaves
Leaves are floating, heart shaped, frequently purplish underneath, slightly wavy, and have shallowly scalloped margins. They are alternately arranged on stolons and oppositely arranged on flower stems.
Flowers
Flowers are stalked and are solitary or in clusters up to 5. Flowers have 5 sepals, 5 petals and 5 stamens. Petals are yellow and have fringed edges
Fruit & Seeds
The fruit is a capsule about 1 inch long and contains numerous flat, oval seeds.
Impact
Yellow floating heart is a popular garden ornamental that appears to be an aggressive grower, forming dense mats of vegetation in water. It negatively impacts fish and wildlife habitat, recreation activities and water quality.
Ecology & Spread
Habitat
Yellow floating heart is found in slow moving rivers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds and swamps. It can also grow on damp mud. Please click here to see a county level distribution map of yellow floating heart in Washington.
Spread Mechanisms
Reproduction
Yellow floating heart spreads by seeds and vegetatively by rhizomes, stolons and plant fragments.
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