About

Nymphoides peltata, the yellow floating heart, is a vigorous aquatic perennial with rounded, fresh-green, mottled, floating leaves and long-stalked, bright-yellow flowers to 2.5 cm across with fringed petals in summer. A charming and ornamental aquatic for a pond or water garden.

About the genus

Nymphoides are deciduous, rhizomatous aquatic perennials with rounded, floating leaves and solitary, yellow or white flowers with fringed petals, held just above the water surface. Ornamental aquatics for ponds and water gardens.

Growing conditions

SunlightFull sun
Soil typeClay, Loam
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisturePoorly-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6

Plant details

Plant typeAquatic
HabitSubmerged, Floating
FoliageDeciduous
HeightUp to 10 cm
Spread1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesBorders, containers, naturalising in grass.
Native toEurasia

Care notes

CultivationThis plant is listed on Schedule 9 of the UK Wildlife & Countryside Act as an invasive non-native species. Although not banned from sale, it is an offence to plant or cause these to grow in the wild in NORTHERN IRELAND and the REPUBLIC OF IRELAND. Gardeners possessing them should undertake measures to control them. See RHS advice on invasive non-native species for further information
PruningMinimal pruning required. Remove dead or damaged growth as needed.
PropagationPlease see cultivation notes
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to water-lily beetle, water lily aphid, brown china-mark moth and false leaf-mining midge
Disease resistanceGenerally-disease free