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Common Water Hyacinth

Pontederia crassipes

Other Common Names

Water Hyacinth

Plant Category

Aquatic, Perennial

Invasive Description

Common Water Hyacinth is originally from South America. Plants float on and extend above the water due to enlarged-bulb-like petioles. Leaves are thick, shiny, and bright green, 1-5 inches in width, and are kidney-shaped, or slightly concave. Lavender flowers are conspicuous n groups of 8-15 atop a stalk reaching 16 inches. Synonym: Eichhornia crassipes

Ecological Threat

Common Water Hyacinth lowers light penetration and dissolved oxygen levels, altering native vegetation and fish communities. It can impede boat traffic and clog irrigation canals and intake pumps.

Common Water Hyacinth (listed under Eichhornia crassipes) is on the Texas Dept. of Agriculture’s List of Noxious Plants and on Texas Parks and Wildlife’s list of Invasive, Prohibited and Exotic species which are illegal to sell, distribute or import into Texas.

How to Eradicate

For information on how to eradicate this invasive, view our statement on herbicide use and preferred alternatives for invasive plants.

Native Alternatives

You can replace this invasive plant with native alternatives. Here are some plants that make superior replacements.

Match your location on the Texas map to the color squares on the replacement plants below to find suitable replacements for your ecoregion.

Click for more details about the ecoregions
Additional Replacement Options: Humped bladderwort (Utricularia gibba), American white waterlily (Nymphaea odorata)