Common Name: floating heart
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Menyanthaceae
Native Range: Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka
Zone: 9 to 11
Height: 0.25 to 0.50 feet
Spread: 3.00 to 4.00 feet
Bloom Time: June to August
Bloom Description: Yellow flowers
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Wet
Maintenance: Medium
Suggested Use: Water Plant
Flower: Showy
Tolerate: Wet Soil
Culture
Winter hardy to USDA Zones 9-11 where plants will survive outdoors in winter. This species of water snowflake is best grown in 1-2’ of standing water in organically rich sandy bottom loams or in submerged containers. It needs full sun to part shade. Plants spread by viviparous leaves. In St. Louis, plants may be grown as annuals by submerging containers in up to 1-2’ of water. If desired, containers may be brought indoors before fall frost for overwintering in a greenhouse or aquarium with a grow light. Although plants may be propagated by seed, the easiest method is by dividing plantlets.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Nymphoides aurantiaca, commonly known as yellow-flowered snowflake, is a rhizomatous, floating leaf, tender aquatic perennial which, from a distance, somewhat resembles a small water lily (Nymphaea) in appearance. It is native to areas of standing water in Taiwan, western India and Sri Lanka. Stems from underwater rhizomes rise to the water surface bearing flat, orbicular, dark green leaf blades (each to 2” diameter) which float on the water surface. Fringed, snowflake-like, yellow flowers have 5-lobed calices and 5-lobed corollas. Flowers bloom primarily in summer on short stalks rising slightly above the leaves. Flowers give way to seeded capsules.
Limnanthemum aurantiacum is a synonym.
Genus name of Nymphoides means resembling Nymphaea (water lily), but these two genuses are in different families.
Specific epithet from the Latin aurantiacus means orange-colored.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Floating water lily-like plant for still shallow water. Fits well into water gardens, pools or small ponds.