Yellow floating heart (Nymphoides peltatum) was detected in Oakland County previously but is not known to be here currently. This species is often found in slow moving bodies of water such as ponds, lakes, and rivers. The yellow flowers have 5 petals and there can be 2-5 flowers on each stalk above water. The leaves are circular to heart shaped with wavy edges.
Our native yellow water lily (Nuphar lutea) looks similar to yellow floating heart. Except the water lily has smooth leaf edges.
Have you seen yellow floating heart? Report it to us or on the MISIN website or smartphone app! Please include a photo to help with ID verification.
Environmental Impacts
Yellow floating heart forms dense thickets that cause many negative impacts. There is a reduction in native plant diversity and a decrease in water quality. Light is unable to reach aquatic life below the surface and algae can be shaded out. Algae is an important food source for aquatic life. With dense patches of yellow floating heart recreational activities can be impacted, such as boating and swimming.
Treatments
Research is still being conducted to determine the best treatment method for yellow floating heart. The best treatment is prevention! Always remember to clean, drain, and dry your boat properly to reduce the risk of spreading this species to a new body of water. This plant can resprout from small fragments so if you try to hand pull the plant, the entire thing must be removed. All plant pieces must be thrown away in a landfill to prevent further spread.