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Crested Floating Heart

Nymphoides hydrophylla

Other Common Names

None for this invasive

Plant Category

Aquatic, Perennial

Invasive Description

Crested Floating Heart was intentionally introduced in the U.S. from Asia as an ornamental plant in water gardens and has escaped cultivation. It is a freshwater floating perennial with runners that aggressively root in the substrate. Most of its leaves are floating, but some remain submersed. Floating leaves are somewhat heart shaped and are purplish underneath. Flowers are white with five petals, each of which has fringed edges and a longitudinal, ruffled crest, range in size from 0.3 – 0.9 inches wide and are held singly above the water surface on a stalk. Synonym: Nymphoides cristata

Ecological Threat

Crested Floating Heart grows rapidly, covering the entire surface of the water, shading out and outcompeting natives. Decomposing vegetation impacts water quality and other aquatic species, and shading can cause severe declines in algae, disrupting the entire food web.

You may not want or need to replace this invasive plant, but if you do, options are listed below.

Yellow Floating Heart (as Nymphoides cristata) is 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: Banana lily (Nymphoides aquatica), Little floating heart (Nymphoides cordata), Cow lily (Nuphar lutea ssp. advena), American white water lily (Nymphaea odorata)