Pistia Stratiotes Water Lettuce

A floating, lettuce-like aquatic plant for summer ponds. Position: full sun Depth of water: 5-50cm (floating) Rate of growth: average to fast Flowering period: June to September Hardiness: tender A decorative floating aquatic, which can be used to dress an outside pool during the ...A floating, lettuce-like aquatic plant for summer ponds. Position: full sun Depth of water: 5-50cm (floating) Rate of growth: average to fast Flowering period: June to September Hardiness: tender A decorative floating aquatic, which can be used to dress an outside pool during the summer, then kept in an indoor aquarium when the temperatures start to drop.

It has fabulous evergreen foliage, and pretty roots, which change colour from white to purple, then black as they mature. In tropical regions (where it originates from), it can be invasive, but here in the UK, the lower temperatures and colder winters prevent it from becoming a nuisance. Garden care: Keep plants looking neat and tidy by removing older leaves.

Remove plantlets, which develop on the slender stolons (runners) in spring. Maintain temperatures about 10C in winter.