Great as a gift 🌸
Water Hyacinth
Eichhornia crassipes · Pontederiaceae
How it looks
Water Hyacinth is an aquatic plant that floats on the water's surface, buoyed up like balloons by thick, swollen rounded leaf stalks. The leaves are round and dark green, and purple to lavender flowers cluster spike-like at the tip of an upright stalk. It stands 8–16 in (20–40 cm) tall.
Water Hyacinth is listed as non-toxic to cats by the ASPCA. An occasional nibble is unlikely to cause any real trouble.
Guide for parents
Even with a safe plant, make a habit of picking up fallen leaves the same day. If your cat likes to dig in or eat potting soil, fertilizer ingredients can upset their stomach — covering the soil with pebbles works well. If it comes home as a cut stem, florists often treat it with preservatives, so place the vase where your cat can't drink the water.
Details
- Scientific name
- Eichhornia crassipes
- Common name
- Water Hyacinth
- Family
- Pontederiaceae
- Source
- ASPCA
