Yellow Floating Heart | Nebraska Invasive Species Council

Credit: Shaun Winterton, Aquarium and Pond Plants of the World, Edition 3, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org

General Information

Species Name: Nymphoides peltata

Also Known As: entire marshwort, floating heart, fringed water lily, yellow floatingheart, yellow floating-heart

Family: Menyanthaceae (Buckbean)

Growth Form: Forb (emergent aquatic)

Life Span: Perennial

Flowering Dates: May-September

Origin: Europe, Asia

Noxious: No

Category 2: Priority Aquatic Invasive Species

Why Is It Invasive?

Yellow floating heart creates dense mats and can reproduce prolifically through both vegetative and sexual means. Infestations have caused many negative environmental and economic impacts, which include displacing native species, reducing biodiversity, decreasing water quality, impeding recreational activities, and diminishing aesthetic value. It is very difficult to control due to its ability to form a new plant from rhizomes, stolons, separated leaves, or seeds.

What Does It Look Like?

General Characteristics

Yellow floating heart is a water-lily-like plant rooted in the substrate that produces leaves and flowers that float on the surface of the water. Short, thick clusters of roots originate from modified stems (rhizomes) growing partly or entirely below the sediment.

Flowers

2-5 bright yellow flowers arise from erect flower stalks; 3-4 cm in diameter. Five petals are arranged like the spokes of a wheel, each with a distinctive fringe along the edges.

Leaves

Heart-shaped and 3-10 cm across; alternately arranged on the stems and oppositely arranged on the flower stalks. Leaves float on the water surface, have slightly wavy margins and frequently have purplish undersides.

Stems

Has stout, branching stems up to 0.1 in. (2-3 mm) thick.

Seeds

Fruit is a long-beaked capsule (to 2.5 cm) that splits on one side. One fruit is produced from each flower and contains a few too many smooth, shiny seeds with wing-like margins.

Photos

A closeup of a yellow floating heart flower.

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

A closeup of a yellow floating heart flower, leaves, and stems emerging from a water body.

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

A closeup of an unopened yellow floating heart flower emerging straight up from a body of water.

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

A closeup of four closed green buds on a yellow floating heart plant.

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

Two blooming flowers and unopened buds on a yellow floating heart plant.

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

A field of yellow floating heart seen emerging on a body of water.

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

A field of yellow floating heart floating on top of a waterbody.

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

An infestation of yellow floating heart covering a body of water.

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

Where Does It Grow?

Yellow floating heart prefers to grow in slow moving rivers, lakes, reservoirs and ponds, but can also grow in damp mud, swamps and wetlands and is known to occur in ditches and canals.

How Does It Spread?

Yellow floating heart is still commonly sold as a plant for water gardens and can be carelessly disposed of into local waterbodies. The plants spread by underwater stems (runners) and can be divided easily that way though it propagates by seed as well. They overwinter in cold areas at the bottom of bodies of water similar to water lilies.

How Do I Control It?

Management of invasive aquatic plants involving either mechanical removal of plants or application of herbicides to public waters requires a permit. Contact the Contact the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for more information.

Mechanical

Cutting or pulling the plant by hand or with equipment such as rakes or cutting blades could break it into fragments, allowing it to further spread. Contact the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to determine appropriate removal methods.

Cultural

CLEAN your watercraft, trailer, angling gear and other equipment. Remove all aquatic vegetation and animal species from your equipment.
DRAIN your watercraft at the ramp by removing the boat plug and draining all live wells and ballast tanks.
DRY your watercraft, trailer and other equipment for at least 7 days before visiting another waterbody. If coming from a known zebra mussel infested waterbody, allow your watercraft and equipment to dry for at least 30 days before using them on an un-infested waterbody.
DON'T LET IT LOOSE. Do not release or transport exotic or non-native fish species to new ecosystems, and do not dump aquariums. It is unlawful to release any aquatic species into a waterbody other than the one from which it was harvested. Doing so can promote the spread of AIS.

Chemical

Application of chemicals to public waters requires a permit. Contact the Contact the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for more information.

What Should I Do If I See It in Nebraska?

If you see yellow floating heart in Nebraska, you should report it to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program using their AIS Report Form. For guidance on what information to include in your report, check out our reporting tips.