Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) are floating aquatic plants known for their chartreuse green foliage arranged in compact rosettes. Called Nile Cabbage, they belong to the Arum family and consist of a single species. Although originally from Africa, water lettuce is now found in most freshwater bodies in tropical and subtropical areas.
What Does Water Lettuce Look Like?
The leaves of water lettuce are thick and hairy with parallel veins and scalloped edges. They have no stalks and seem to grow directly from the roots, since the stem is almost nonexistent. The feathery roots grow up to a foot underwater, but the leaf rosettes remain less than six inches in height, forming a low mat over the water surface.
Where to Grow Water Lettuce
Water lettuce flourishes in USDA Zones 9 - 11. It can be grown in colder climates with adequate protection. The ideal temperature range is 70 - 85 degrees Fahrenheit, but water lettuce can survive in temperatures as low as 50 degrees.
However, if you garden in an area colder than that, and want to keep your water lettuces growing year after year, you'll have to overwinter them indoors in containers full of water, making sure the area has proper lighting. Plant lights or a mix of warm and cool fluorescent tubes will work for this, and this setup can be tucked into an out-of-the-way spot in your home.
Water lettuce can also just be purchased every year, like any other annual. Just be sure to pull it out of your pond before cold weather sets in, or you'll be left with a gooey, wet mess of dead water lettuce foliage the following year.
Water Lettuce Varieties
There are several water lettuce varieties available in garden centers and shops selling aquarium plants. When purchased by mail order, they may not look their best initially. Allow them to recuperate in a small pot in a shady place before adding them to larger arrangements or fish ponds.
A few varieties with slight difference in leaf shapes are available, but they all belong to the single species Pistia stratiotes.
- 'Ruffles' has slightly ruffled leaves, as the name implies.
- 'Jurassic' can grow very large rosettes, but growth is slower.
- 'Splash' has variegated leaves, but is rarer than other varieties.
Propagating Water Lettuce
Pistia self-propagate prolifically by making baby plants on the tip of stolons arising from almost every leaf axil. The tiny white flowers arising from the axils of leaves at the center of the rosette have a single bract, like the other plants in the Arum family. Each fertilized flower grows into a single berry.
Water Lettuce Care
Water lettuce care is fairly straightforward; in fact, the trick will be in not letting it get out of control.
- Pistia can be grown in small pots by itself or as part of an assortment of other aquatic plants in larger tubs. They prefer quiet waters and overcrowding; adding a floating ring will keep them together and happy in agitated ponds.
- They do better in shade, but too little light will make the leaves turn a darker green. In a very sunny location, they may have a bleached look.
- As tropical plants, they need warmth to grow well. Cold winters will kill them. However, they are easily kept indoors near a bright window until warm weather returns. They can be overwintered by planting them in pots filled to the rim with water too.
- Bottom soil is not necessary for growth, but they require periodic fertilizing to thrive. In the absence of adequate nutrition, many plantlets are produced, but the rosettes remain small. Place them occasionally in a small vessel containing a balanced fertilizer to give them a boost. Adding a little potassium nitrate to the water is another option.
- They do well in koi and goldfish ponds, using up their nitrogenous wastes, but may need to be grown in net baskets if the fish population is too high.
Uses for Water Lettuce
Water lettuce has many uses, and while it is technically edible, this plant is usually used as an ornamental and useful pond plant.
- Water lettuce adds interesting color and texture to mixed groupings in tubs and ponds.
- They can be used in fish ponds, as they provide food and shelter. The hanging roots offer protection to spawn and smaller fish.
- They play a role in preventing algal blooms by using up nutrients in the water.
- Water lettuce is not related to the lettuce used in salads. Young leaves are edible when cooked, but not highly recommended. Bruised fresh leaves can cause itching because of the calcium oxalate crystals present.
Water Lettuce Problems
There aren't many pests or diseases that affect water lettuce, but there are a few things to watch out for... including the possibility of the plant becoming invasive.
- Yellowing of leaves may result from nutritional deficiency and too much sun exposure.
- Some water snails and fish feast on the roots and leaves, destroying the plants completely.
- Their hairy leaves have water repellant capacity, but constant splashing from fountains and waterfalls cause rotting.
- They provide a haven for mosquito larvae; Mansonia mosquitoes are specially adapted for living in the root system of water lettuce.
Potentially Invasive (or Illegal!)
Water lettuce can easily become invasive, which can lead to a multitude of problems.
- When allowed to grow unchecked, Pistia can crowd out other aquatic plants. The submerged oxygenator plants in the pond may die off from lack of sunlight, and animal life dependent on them may follow suit.
- Their prolific growth can choke waterways and destabilize natural ecosystems and destroy native plants and animals.
- It's illegal to grow water lettuce in several states. Do not buy or grow it if you garden in:
- Alabama
- California
- Florida
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Wisconsin
Easy to Grow Water Lettuce
Water lettuce is easy to grow and an interesting addition to any garden, but the growth should be kept in check by removing excess plants. Never dispose of water lettuce in natural water bodies.
