Water Lettuce

Pistia stratiotes

Found in streams, rivers and their banks. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Florida edition What its natural habitat tells you

-15

Harmful

Native to Florida. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 65%

Height: 3–6 inches
Spread: 6 inches–1.5 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Wet to standing water

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Pistia stratiotes — whole photograph — Syariful Msth · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original photograph

Do not plant. Listed invasive in Florida.

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Maidenhair Spleenwort
Asplenium trichomanes
Sun: Dappled sunlight, Deep shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Not applicable.
Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous

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At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Leaves: Evergreen

Not yet recorded · Bloom

Recorded in 46 Florida counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Streams, rivers and their banks

Flowing water and its banks, bars and rocky shoals.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Florida. Shared habitat, not food. 86 animals.

Northern Pintail
Anas acuta
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Northern Shoveler
Anas clypeata
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Painted Bunting
Passerina ciris
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podiceps
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Purple Gallinule
Porphyrio martinica
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Roseate Spoonbill
Platalea ajaja
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Sandhill Crane
Grus canadensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Savannah Sparrow
Passerculus sandwichensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Semipalmated Plover
Charadrius semipalmatus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Accipiter striatus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Shiny Cowbird
Molothrus bonariensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Snail Kite
Rostrhamus sociabilis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Sora
Porzana carolina
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularius
Birds. 1 shared habitat

All wildlife of Florida

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

3CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including FL

Genus host records with ranges including FL · Pistia

Elophila obliteralisWaterlily Leafcutter Moth
Samea multiplicalisSalvinia Stem-borer Moth
Argyractis drumalis

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Araceae
Hardiness: Zones 8a–10b
Flower color: Yellow, green, inconspicuous or white

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Flower color · “Yellow, green, inconspicuous or white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Hardiness · “Zones 8a–10b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “3–6 inches” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Leaves · “Evergreen” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Frequent standing water” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “6 inches–1.5 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Conservation status

Florida rank	S4S5
Global rank	G5
FL status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source