• Photo of Nymphoides peltata (Nymphoides peltatas)

Plant Profile: Nymphoides peltata

Taxonomy: Nymphoides peltata

Names

Floating Heart, Yellow Floating Heart

  • Photo of Nymphoides peltata (Nymphoides peltatas)

Phonetic Spelling:nym-FOY-deez pel-TAY-ta

Genus:Nymphoides

Species:peltata

Family:Menyanthaceae

This plant is a robust rhizomatous variety that can exhibit aggressive growth. It is best cultivated in 1-gallon containers and should be submerged in 12 to 24 inches of water, thriving in full sunlight. It prefers sandy loam soil rich in organic matter, akin to the conditions found in riverbeds or the bottoms of ponds. Additionally, it adapts well to container gardening. The plant spreads through underwater stems, known as runners, and can be easily divided for propagation, although it can also reproduce from seeds. In colder climates, it survives the winter by resting at the bottoms of water bodies, much like water lilies. Its leaves float on the water's surface, resembling those of small water lilies.

Regarding pests and diseases, this plant does not face any significant issues.

Nymphoides peltata Feature Summary

Nymphoides peltata Image Gallery

Tags

#showy flowers
#invasive
#water garden
#rain garden
#water plant
#ponds
#naturalizes
#container plants

Similar Plants

Nymphoides peltata is often confused with:

Nymphoides peltata Feature Summary

Attributes
US from New England to AZ, CA, WA
Seed
Stem Cutting
Division
Flowers
Appearing in summer and lasting only one day. Star-shaped bright yellow 3/4" flowers with a 5-lobed corolla that has papery texture. They bloom on long stalks above the leaves. Lobes are fringed.
Gold/Yellow
4-5 petals/rays
< 1 inch
Leaves
Round, to ovate, to heart-shaped 4" leaves slightly dentate, glossy leaves
Other/more complex
Ovate
Orbicular
3-6 inches
3-6 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Herbaceous Perennial
Water Plant
Spreading
Prostrate
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Frequent Standing Water
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
10b
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Rain Garden
Water Garden
Container
Naturalized Area
Riparian
Weedy
Invasive Species

Nymphoides peltata Attributes

Nymphoides peltata: Country Or Region Of Origin

Europe, Asia

Nymphoides peltata: Distribution

US from New England to AZ, CA, WA

Nymphoides peltata: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Nymphoides peltata Flowers

Nymphoides peltata: Flower Description

Appearing in summer and lasting only one day. Star-shaped bright yellow 3/4" flowers with a 5-lobed corolla that has papery texture. They bloom on long stalks above the leaves. Lobes are fringed.

Nymphoides peltata: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow

Nymphoides peltata: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Nymphoides peltata: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Nymphoides peltata: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Nymphoides peltata: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Nymphoides peltata: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Nymphoides peltata: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Nymphoides peltata Leaves

Nymphoides peltata: Leaf Description

Round, to ovate, to heart-shaped 4" leaves slightly dentate, glossy leaves

Nymphoides peltata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Nymphoides peltata: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Nymphoides peltata: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Nymphoides peltata: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Nymphoides peltata: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Nymphoides peltata: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Nymphoides peltata: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Nymphoides peltata: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Nymphoides peltata: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Nymphoides peltata Whole Plant Traits

Nymphoides peltata: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Nymphoides peltata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Nymphoides peltata: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Nymphoides peltata: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Nymphoides peltata Cultural Conditions

Nymphoides peltata: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Nymphoides peltata: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Nymphoides peltata: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Nymphoides peltata: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Nymphoides peltata: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Nymphoides peltata Stem

Nymphoides peltata: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Nymphoides peltata Landscape

Nymphoides peltata: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Nymphoides peltata: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Nymphoides peltata: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Nymphoides peltata: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy