Pistia stratiotes Plants

The lettuce shaped leaves are soft hairy. This plant spreads by sending out runners to form young plants. The fine roots give good cover for small fish. Pistia are not hardy and do best placed in sheltered pools. Not hardy. Remove decaying plants after first frost. Very hard to overwinter as they must be placed in shallow water with soil at the base of the container. They should be kept in moderate light at a temperatute above 15C. Minimum height 10cm maximum height 30cm. Minimum spread 10cm maximum spread 20cm. Medium growth rate.