Eichhornia crassipes

RHS Plant Profile
water hyacinth

Other common names

Jamaica water plantain, sky-blue pickerel weed, water orchid

This plant is listed as an invasive non-native species in the UK – see Cultivation section for details. A floating, aquatic perennial consisting of rosettes of rounded leaves, to 15cm long, with inflated, shiny, pale green leaf stalks. Long, purplish-green roots hang down into the water and may root into the mud at the bottom. Upright spikes of showy, pale blue to pale purple, funnel-shaped flowers, each 3cm across, are produced in summer

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Pontederiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Genus
Eichhornia are rhizomatous, marginal to deep-water perennials. Submerged leaves are linear to strap-shaped, floating and aerial leaves rounded or heart-shaped. Showy, funnel-shaped flowers are carried in upright spikes in summer
Name Status
Unresolved
Plant Range
Tropical America

How to Grow

Cultivation

This plant is listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981), the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat list of Species of Special Concern and the EU list of Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern (applies in NI). It should not be planted or caused to grow in the wild in the UK. It is also banned from sale, and gardeners who already have it should take steps to control it. See RHS advice on invasive non-native species for further information

Propagation

See cultivation notes

Pests

See cultivation notes

Diseases

See cultivation notes