Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth)

Eichhornia crassipes

Photo courtesy Bob Case

Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) is a floating freshwater perennial (family Pontederiaceae) that jams rivers and lakes with tons of floating plant matter. Floating mats of this plant can weigh up to 200 tons per acre. In California, Eichhornia crassipes typically is found below 660 feet (200 m) elevation in the Central Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, and south coast.

Cal-IPC Inventory rating: High

Cal-IPC Resources on Eichhornia crassipes

• California Invasive Plant Inventory Assessment Form (pdf) - Information gathered by Cal-IPC on the impacts, rate of spread, and distribution of invasive plants in California. Does not include management information.
• Species account from Invasive Plants of California's Wildlands - Includes biology and management information.
• Cal-IPC News - Articles from our quarterly newsletter. Each issue is available as a pdf. List of articles on Eichhornia crassipes.
• Cal-IPC Symposium Proceedings - Presentations and papers from our annual Symposium. List of articles on Eichhornia crassipes.
• Don't Plant a Pest! - Alternatives to invasive plants for aquatic gardens.

Cal-IPC News Articles

• Connick, S. and M. Gerel (2005). Don't sell a pest: A new partnership to prevent plant invasions through horticulture. Cal-IPC News. 13: 4-5,14.
• Dudley, T. (2000). Foreign exploration for biological control of Arundo donax. CalEPPC News. 8: 8-9.
• Pitcairn, M. (2000). All weeds that have approved biological control agents, accidental introductions and others. CalEPPC News. 8.

Cal-IPC Symposium Proceedings

• Brusati, E. (2009). The cost of weeds to California. Cal-IPC News. 17: 6,7,13.
• Blair, C. E. (2009). Invasive aquatic weeds: Implications for mosquito and vector management activities. Cal-IPC Symposium 2009. Visalia, CA, California Invasive Plant Council.
• Shruti, K., M. J. Santos, et al. (2008). Patterns of change in water hyacinth distribution in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. California Invasive Plant Council Symposium 2008. Chico, CA, California Invasive Plant Council.
• Anderson, L. (2003). Aquatic weeds: Policy, prevention, and control. California Invasive Plant Council Symposium 2003. Kings Beach, CA.
• Benefield, C. B. (1999). Private and public funding opportunities: Sources of funding for weed management programs. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium '99. Sacramento, CA.
• Blair M.D., C. E. (2006). Invasive aquatic weeds: Implications for mosquito and vector management activities. Cal-IPC Symposium. Rohnert Park, CA.
• Chornesky, E. A. and C. M. Palmer (1995). Use of biologically based methods to control pest plants:Issues related to federal research, regulation, and implementation. Proceedings California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium '95. Pacific Grove, CA.
• Connick, S. and M. Gerel (2004). Partnering to prevent invasions of plants of horticultural origin. California Invasive Plant Council Symposium 2004. Ventura, CA.
• Crosson, H. A. (2004). Water gardening: Pathway to paradise or plant invasion? California Invasive Plant Council Symposium 2004. Ventura, CA.
• Jackson, N. E. (1996). Control of exotic weeds with Roundup herbicide: A survey of projects around the world. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium. San Diego, CA.
• Pitcairn, M. J. and D. M. Woods (1998). Control methods: Biological control. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium '98. Ontario, CA.

Other Resources on Eichhornia crassipes

• USDA PLANTS database - Federal database with information on identification and distribution, and links to websites in individual states.
• Jepson Online Interchange for California Flora - Information on taxonomy, biology, and distribution from the UC Berkeley Jepson Herbarium.
• CalFlora - Distribution information by county based on submitted observations and herbarium specimens.
• The Nature Conservancy Element Stewardship Abstract - Information compiled by TNC land managers. Photos included for some species.
• CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.
• Natural Resource Projects Inventory - State database with information on resource management projects throughout California. Query by the species of interest.
• California Department of Boating and Waterways - Facts on water hyacinth and other aquatic pests.

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