Eichhornia azurea

Common Name: rooted water-hyacinth

Family: Pontederiaceae

Common Synonyms: none

USDA Hardiness Zone: 9B - 11

Growth Habit: Rooted aquatic

Origin: Central and South America

FISC Category: -

FDACS Listed Noxious Weed: Yes

Introduction Date: introduced in US in 1800's, unknown when introduced in Florida

IFAS Assessment:

• North: OK
• Central: OK
• South: OK

Description

Rooted perennial aquatic. Leaves alternate, submersed leaves sessile, emersed leaves stalked, the stalk not inflated. Showy purple flowers above water surface on erect stems, 7-50 flowers per stalk. Flowers summer through fall.

Habitat

Coastal rivers and lakes

Comments

Only vouchered from Columbia Co, but is a Federal Noxious Weed. Good to prevent establishment.

Control Methods

• Manual: Mechanical: Chopping (Texas State University)
• Chemical: Likely can treat similar to E. crassipes (water hyacinth) as follows: Foliar (diquat dibromide, 1-2 quarts/acre smaller plants, up to 3 qt/ac for mature plants). Frequent applications may be required. [IFAS]
• Biological: NA

Control Notes

**Follow herbicide labels: Only herbicides registered for application in water by EPA and FDACS may be applied to weeds growing in or near water.

References

Dave's Garden. 2013. PlantFiles: Anchored water hyacinth, peacock hyacinth, Eichhornia azurea. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/32226/. Accessed on December 9, 2013.

Texas State University - Institute for the Study of Invasive Species. 2013. Eichhornia azurea, Anchored water hyacinth. http://www.tsusinvasives.org/database/anchored-water-hyacinth.html. Accessed on December 9, 2013.

University of Georgia - Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. 2013. BugwoodWiki: Eichhornia azurea. http://wiki.bugwood.org/Eichhornia_azurea. Accessed on December 9, 2013.