The mosaic plant is a floating, aquatic, herbaceous perennial in the primrose family, native to Brazil, but often grown as an annual in other climates. While only 4 inches high at maturity, it has colorful floating diamond leaves that form an intricate rose pattern and cup-shaped yellow flowers that blossom in summer. The genus name honors Christian G. Ludwig (1709-1773), a professor at Leipzig. The species name means resembling sedum. Mosaic Plant requires lots of sun or artificial light, a wet environment, and heavy macro and micro fertilization to produce attractive growth. Flower production requires optimal conditions of light, moisture, and fertilization.To propagate the plant, cut off the floating rosette leaving a piece of the stem. A new rosette will develop on it after a short while. The Mosaic Plant is not winter hardy in North Carolina and needs to be brought indoors where it can be grown as an annual in containers covered with 6 to 18 inches of 72 degree F. water and rooted in the substrate below the water surface. The water requirements of these plants makes them difficult to overwinter indoors, but they can be placed in large aquariums for that purpose. Use in an aquarium is complicated by light and nutrient requirements. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known insect or disease problems. Can be susceptible to leaf spot and rust.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Frequent Standing Water | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 4 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Horizontal; Spreading
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Pink; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Rhomboidal
Leaf margin
Dentate
Leaf feel
Glossy; Smooth
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Red and green diamond-shaped leaves appear in rounded clusters of 3 to 6 inch wide rosettes floating on the water surface. The edges of central and older leaves turn bright red when the plant is grown under bright light or sunlight. Leaf rosettes are fully extended during daytime and contracted at night where the leaves overlap one another.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Head; Solitary
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Two-inch, cup-shaped yellow blooms from June to August that float on the surface of the water.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Explosive capsules release seeds.
Stem color
Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Hollow, reddish and brittle stems.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
South Mexico to Tropical America, Brazil, Venezuela