Water Lettuce

If you're looking for a way to add aesthetic appeal to your pond or water garden then check out the Pistia Stratiotes "Rosetta" plant (AKA Water Lettuce). This plant is a tropical, free-floating plant. Its velvety ribbed leaves form delicate, pale green rosettes. Resembles a cabbage plant. The leaves grow up to 8 in. long and 3 in; it produces plantlets that stretch out from the mother plants on slender stems and can be separated and fertilized if needed.

*Minimum water temp: 65 degrees

Water Lettuce gets its name from its appearance as it resembles a floating open head of lettuce. The leaves are spongy near the base, with dense soft pubescence on obvious parallel veins. Leaves are a soft green color and have prominent parallel veins and dense white hairs covering the leaf surface.

The roots are numerous, feathery and dense. They hang unbranched 6-8 inches below the water, and each root is covered with fine root hairs which give them a feather-like appearance.

The Water lettuce plant is a favorite treat or snack food for koi fish who will gobble them up given the chance.