Product Overview
Rosette Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)
A compact form of water lettuce with a rosette shape, which can generally adapt to full sun better than the original water lettuce. The velvety, ribbed leaves range in color from light green to blue green. Water Lettuce does best when water temperatures are 65 degrees F. or higher, and does not tolerate cold water or freezing temperatures.
Like water hyacinths, water lettuce makes a great water clarifier once the pond water warms up. It absorbs nutrients from the pond water, outcompeting algae for nutrients at the same time that it helps limit algae growth by blocking light to the algae.
Water lettuce grows quickly, sending out runners like a strawberry plant. When you have more than you need, harvest the extra--this removes the nutrients that have been accumulated completely from the pond ecosystem. Use the extra plants as compost or mulching material, and put those accumulated nutrients to good use in your garden! At the end of the season, remove all the water lettuce before they freeze, so they can't release the nutrients back into the pond. Again, use it in your garden!
Water lettuce will soften a little in transit from 100% humidity for several days without light, plus may lose some roots during shipping, so acclimate them in shade for a couple days, then slowly increase light levels to prevent burning.
Light Requirements: Full Sun to Shade. In hot dry climates they may burn in full sun, so give partial shade. In full sun, they will generally be more dense and compact, and possibly develop reddish areas as a form of tanning from the sun. In full shade, they will tend to grow smaller, thinner and more delicate. Water lettuce usually attain their greatest size in warm, humid climates in part sun.
Hardiness Zone: 9-11
Water Depth: Floating
THIS PLANT CANNOT BE SHIPPED TO AL, FL, LA, PR, SC, TX, WI - Will be substituted or cancelled, at our discretion. Never release these plants into public lakes or waterways. Know your state laws.
