Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Identifying plants Automatically Identifying Plants

Found these beautiful plants growing in a ditch by the road. Took this picture.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/p6AUJUm0suPqtpWE3


Rather than searching all over I hit the scan button in google photos. Up popped Common Water Hyacinth and even a link to Wikipedia.

Give it a try.

As for the water hyacinth, it gets pretty good reviews from PB folks, but I think I'll pass. Still hunting for duck potato.

You are wise to pass on the hyacinths. Water hyacinths are VERY prolific and can quickly become a problem, especially if you ever fertilize. Also, they send down seeds into the pond bottom that last for up to 14 years, so when you have them you'll be dealing with more for a long time.

Duck potato worked well in my pond, until the beaver ate it.

Thanks for the advice. Pretty plant, but it has really choked the drainage ditch, and it's not native. I'm trying to stick with plants and critters that are adapted to SE Texas and which won't mess up the existing residents.

Having said that, the WH somehow found itself into that little ditch, so it might find a vector into my BOW on its own. This neck of the woods has its share of invasive tropicals.

Im glad I read this thread. I had been considering transplanting Hyacinth, even tho I know its an invasive species and reproduces like crazy, but besides being a beautiful plant, it provides enormous shade and cover benefits for fry and YOY. I wasn't aware of their seeding behaviour. I figured I could control them by just pulling them out and burning what I didn't want, but I'm no spring chicken any more and knowing what I know now, I think I'll pass.

I'm really needing to find something that will provide cover and shade to help keep my 1/4 acre pond a bit cooler down here in this sauna.

Smart move, Mike. My favorite fishing pond was almost destroyed by WH. As you say, they are beautiful and good cover for the little guys, but MAN when they get going it is so hard to stop them!

They actually make summer pond conditions worse, as they increase evaporation considerably and warm the water.

Mike,

Just a thought.....You might like dwarf hybrid water lilies. I've got three different ones in my little puddle and they seem very well behaved.

Bill D.

Hyacinth looks lovely, but oh boy they multiply fast!