Eichhornia crassipes

Common Name: water hyacinth

Family: Pontederiaceae

Common Synonyms: Eichhornia speciosa, Piaropus crassipes

USDA Hardiness Zone: 9a-11

Growth Habit: Aquatic

Origin: Brazil

FISC Category: 1

FDACS Listed Noxious Weed: Yes

Introduction Date: 1890

IFAS Assessment:

• North: PROHIBITED
• Central: PROHIBITED
• South: PROHIBITED

Description

Water hyacinth is a floating aquatic herb. The plant forms dense mats and has stolons that sprout young plants. The submerged fibrous roots are a purple/blue/black color. The floating glossy green leaves form rosettes. The flower is showy and ornamental, born from a spike at the center of the rosette. Flowers are a lilac/blue color with a yellow marking.

Habitat

Canals, rivers, freshwater marshes, swamps

Comments

Population doubles size every two weeks. Seeds viable for over 100 years.

Control Methods

• Manual: NA
• Chemical: Foliar (diquat dibromide, 1-2 quarts/acre smaller plants, up to 3 qt/ac for mature water hyacinth). Frequent applications required. For resistance management, can use diquat (1 qt/ac)+2,4-D (2 qt/ac).
• Biological: Neochetina bruchi (Insecta: Coleoptera: Curculionidae, weevil), Neochetina eichhorniae (Insecta: Coleoptera: Curculionidae, weevil), Niphograpta albiguttalis (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Crambidae, moth), Orthogalumna terebrantis (Chelicerata: Arachnida: Galumnidae, mite), Megamelus scutellaris (Insecta: Hemiptera: Delphacidae, plant hopper) [CAIP]

Control Notes

NA

References

Langeland, K. A. and K. Craddock Burks. 1998. Identification & Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas, Gainesville: University of Florida.

Dave's Garden. PlantFiles: water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/661/#b. Accessed June 13, 2017.

IFAS, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. 2013. http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/eichhornia-crassipes/. Accessed June 13, 2017.