Floating Hearts Nymphoides peltata Picture from Wm. Tricker Inc. Flower picture from BioImages - Virtual Field-Guide (UK) Category: Groundcovers Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial Height: 2" to 4" / 5cm to 10cm Width: To several feet Bloom Colors: Yellow Bloom Time: July to September Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade Water Depth: 2-12 in. Toxicity: Non Known Hardy in zones 6 - ?. Plant Distribution Click for larger image 29.9 KB 20.6 KB Yellow floating heart is a perennial, waterlily-like plant that carpets the water surface with long-stalked heart-shaped leaves. Its Growth habit resembles pygmy water lilies, and it is a native of Eurasia and the Mediterranean area. The showy five-petaled yellow flowers are poppy shaped with fringed edges, and occur on long stalks and rise a few inches above the water among brown and green mottled leaves. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees and Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). Floating water heart reproduces by water dispersed seeds and by new stolens. Broken off leaves with part of a stem will also form new plants. These plants are aggressive growers and sometimes "hitchhiker" plants such as hydrilla can also be introduced when nursery or mail order species are planted. Growth Habit: Like other floating leaved plants, yellow floating heart grows in dense patches, excluding native species and even creating stagnant areas with low oxygen levels underneath the floating mats. It prefers to grow in slow moving rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and ponds. Kingdom Plantae -- Plants Subkingdom Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants Superdivision Spermatophyta -- Seed plants Division Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants Class Magnoliopsida -- Dicotyledons Subclass Asteridae Order Solanales Family Menyanthaceae -- Buckbean family Genus Nymphoides Hill -- floatingheart P Species Nymphoides peltata (Gmel.) Kuntze -- yellow floatingheart P   Location: The plant will grow in light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It can grow in water. Identification: Look for the following characteristics: Bright, yellow flowers about an inch or so in diameter. Two to five flowers from each flower stalk. Five petals per flower with a distinctive fringe along the edges of the petals. Petals arranged like the spokes of a wheel. Heart-shaped floating leaves with slightly wavy margins and purplish undersides.