Rita

Is this the one in the front yard? I know you said before that you have 3 ponds.

What do the flowers look like? What color?

Great article!

Thanks. Yes, that is the big pond in the front yard. Flowers on the water hyacinths are a light purple.

Don't you have a larger and deeper pond in the backyard?

Water hyacinths are illegal in many states (such as Texas), as they are a noxious weed if allowed in our waterways. Please check with your local restrictions before using water hyacinths.

I've grown water hyacinth & have had articles published on several pond plants. Water Hyacinth is invasive in the south, hence it's being banned, because it wreaks havoc in canal systems. It will not winter over in the north. It can't even survive frost, but should never be put into the environment none-the-less. Better to heap it on the compost pile. Aside from the shade benefits, & protection from predators for fish, the long root system provides added filtration in any setting, aides in keeping the algae bloom under control, & the perfect spawning material for goldfish & koi. The plants put up a spike, or scape, that will produce several lavender blue blossoms. Here's a pic of my 50 gallon patio pond, with the water hyacinth to the left. No blooms yet, as it was early in the season. Enjoy.

They sell they water hyacinths just about everywhere around here so I know they are legal.

Water hyacinths will also work well in a bog type situation and are great in aiding filtration because the roots are so fibrous.

I have tried some in the pond for the koi to play with - the WH get so beaten up by the koi! WH would never last long in my pond if I just had them floating. They also have a way of finding their way into my skimmer.

I do buy them every year - but I also compost them each in the fall as well. It does not take much for the frost to do them in. If I buy them too early, I have to protect them as some of the cool May mornings can do them in as well.

Rita... yes, they are legal in our state & many others in northern climates. Love your pond shots!

I have had water hyacinths but they didn't do well. I think the sun was too intense for them. That's all I can figure.

Mm, don't think it's the intense sun, Kelli. They do really much too well here in FL, and our sun is even more intense than yours.

They're everywhere in the ditches and are always invading ponds and other drainage canals along with the water lettuce.

Kelli

Do you have fish? Could they be the culprits? I know my fish won't leave them alone. Usually I plant mine in my bogs and throw one or two into the pond for the fish to play with. I generally toss the ones in the pond when I get sick of pulling them out of my skimmer.

I do have fish. Maybe that was the problem. It's funny. We built the pond for plants but then I saw a fish at the pond store and couldn't resist. Now the fish are the stars of the pond and the plants are just decoration.