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Water Lettuce is a free-floating perennial aquatic plant (or hydrophyte) native to tropical and sub-tropical Africa

Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), also referred to as water cabbage, or Nile cabbage which creates the perfect environment for fry and skittish fish.

It is believed that water lettuce is native to Africa, though there is no consensus on where it originated from on the continent. It was first recorded on the Nile River, near Lake Victoria. In the ensuing years after its discovery, it has spread around the globe, and presents a very real threat to native vegetation and fish. In fact, it is illegal to own or transport water lettuce in certain states and countries, and anyone looking to purchase these plants should first check local regulations.

Water lettuce grows up to 10 inches across (25.5 centimeters), though it tends to be smaller in the home aquarium. Its leaves have no stem and their surface is covered in short, soft hairs, which help to trap air and increase the buoyancy of the plant.

Care

Water lettuce grows floating on the surface water, and its leaves form a rosette, with dense, submerged roots beneath it. These plants grow like a weed outdoors.

A half barrel is an ideal container for  water lettuce. The plants need full sun in garden ponds, but in containers they do best if they have shade from mid to late afternoon. Cover the inside of the barrel with a heavy duty garbage bag and then place a layer of soil in the bottom of the container. Don’t use commercial potting soil, which contains fertilizers and other chemicals that may harm the plant and encourage the growth of algae.

City water is usually treated with chlorine or chloramine, which is harmful to plants. Garden centers sell products that remove the chlorine and chloramine from the water and make it safe for plants. There is no need to treat the small amounts of water that you use to top off the container through the season. Rain water is best to use to grown them in.