Crested floating heart is an invasive aquatic plant in the Menyanthaceae family native to Southeastern Asia. It was first introduced to FL and used in pond gardens but escaped into the wild and quickly spread through the drainage canals in 1996. By 2001 it had spread throughout FL and by 2006 was found in SC. It is found growing in fresh water ditches, canals, ponds, and lakes. It obstructs water flow, alters water chemistry, displaces native plants and has the potential to disrupt navigation and recreational activities. It is illegal to import, cultivate or sell/trade this plant in North Carolina. Any infestations should be reported to the NCDA Plant Protection Section at 1-800-206-9333. The plant is difficult to control and early detection is necessary to prevent further spread into our natural areas. It can reproduce by stem and leaf fragments that are capable of rooting. It also has the ability to hybridize with native Nymphoides complicating control further. The heart-shaped leaves of this plant are up to 8 x 6 inches and the showy white flowers are up to 1 inch across. The plant blooms all summer and produces many seeds. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. invasive, do not plant. See native alternatives to the left. Listed as invasive by the NC Invasive Plant Council. This species is on the North Carolina noxious weed list.
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) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Frequent Standing Water | Occasionally Wet
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Spreading
Texture
Coarse
Leaf color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Cordate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Green heart-shaped leaves are up to 8 inches long, and 6 inches wide with a short petiole at the end of each stem. Margins are entire and may be reddish. Upper surface is smooth and green and the underside is reddish.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Saucer
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The 5-petaled flowers are .5-1 inch across and white with a yellow throat. On each petal, there is a distinct erect fold, or “crest,” along the midvein. They occur in umbels at the distal stem nodes