Habitat

Yellow floating-heart grows most commonly in ponds, and slow-moving waters that range from 0.5-4.0m deep, but can also be found in wetlands and canals. It prefers muddy substrates to root in and is tolerant of anerobic conditions.

Life Cycle

Yellow floating-heart germinates and grows from April through October, with individual leaves lasting 20-40 days. It produces its flowers between May and October, depending on water temperature. Flowers last one day, but insect pollination still occurs. Self pollination and vegetative spread are additional means of reproduction. In the dormant season, seeds are spread through waterways and embedded in stream and pond banks, and established plants are able to retain nutrients in their root systems until the growing season begins.

Ecological Threat

Yellow floating-heart can grow into dense mats that outcompete native plants. The floating mats limit light penetration and result in low dissolved oxygen concentrations, especially as plant matter decomposes in the fall. These processes lower overall biodiversity and habitat for aquatic animals. Yellow floating-heart is also an impediment to human recreational and fishing activity, impacting boat traffic and activities such as swimming.