An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) is a free-floating plant that can grow to a height of 3 feet. The dark green leave blades are circular to elliptical in shape with a thick root system. Water hyacinth is a very aggressive invader and can form thick mats. Each floating plant consists of several spongy leaf stalks that are bulbous and inflated at base; leaves are arranged in rosettes and are spade-shaped and curled upward on the sides. The plant roots are feathery and finely-divided. Water hyacinth have big, showy, light purple to violet flowers. The wind will push plants together, forming thick mats along the shoreline and on calm days, plants may scatter. When grouped along shoreline, water hyacinth resembles frog's bit or american spongeplant, but hyacinth plants are never rooted.
Mechanical Options
Water hyacinth can be removed from the pond by cutting it out.
Information on Mechanical Treatment of Aquatic Vegetation
Biological Options
There are no biological control options for water hyacinth
Chemical Options
The active ingredients that have been successful in treating water hyacinth include: 2, 4-D (E), Bispyribac Sodium (E), Diquat (E), Glyphosphate (G), Imazamox (E), Imazapyr (E), Penoxsulam (E), and Triclopyr (E). E = excellent, G = good
Information on Chemical Treatment of Aquatic Vegetation
Return to the non-rooted floating vegetation page