Variableleaf Water Hyacinth
Pontederia diversifolia
- Native to:
- Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panamá, Suriname
Nicolás Ramírez
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Pontederiaceae
- Genus:
- Pontederia
- Species:
- Pontederia diversifolia
- USDA Symbol:
- EIDI
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- blue, purple, white
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, waterfowl, fish
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, organic, moisture-retentive soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found in wetlands and marshes
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best when submerged or in saturated soil; requires warm temperatures and light.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI