Yellow Floating-Heart

Yellow Floating-HeartNymphoides peltata

Darren R. ThornhillFisheries Management Biologist

MO Dept. of Conservation3500 S Baltimore St.Kirksville, MO 63501

What does it look like?

• Round to heart-shaped leaves (3-12 cm diameter)– Undersides are often purple

• Two to five yellow flowers (2-4 cm diameter)– Fringed petals (5) above water surface– Flowers May to October

Ecology

• Reproduces by seed and fragmentation

• Prefers slow moving water and/or damp mud

• Found in depths ranging from 0 to 4 meters

• Develops dense, monotypic mats

How did it get here?

• Native of eastern Asia and the Mediterranean• Sold and cultivated in New England as a water

garden plant in 1890’s• First noted in western states in 1930 (Long

Lake, Washington)• Commonly cultivated and sold for ornamental

use in ponds

How do we get rid of it?

• Prevention is paramount!• Biological control is unknown• Mechanical control is not recommended• Chemical control is preferred– Dichlobenil (effective, but not labeled for aquatic)– Glophosate (requires multiple treatments)– Imazapyr (requires multiple treatments)