Species floating heart
Yellow flower with hair and yellow anthers, green leaves and stems.

floating heart

Nymphoides aurantiaca

Floating heart (Nymphoides aurantiaca) is a plant species native to tropical Asia, Australia, and other Pacific islands. This aquatic perennial produces delicate yellow-orange flowers at the surface of the water. Its heart-shaped leaves are held above the water, enabling the plant to float freely. The plant grows in standing water, making it a perfect addition to many water gardens. It requires full sunlight and well-oxygenated water, and flowering is best in warmer temperatures. With adequate care, floating heart is an ornamental beauty that brings splashes of colour to well-maintained water gardens.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Division,Seed Propagation,Cutting,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

9 - 11

Flowers:

Yellow flowers Flowers

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,yellow

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Moderate

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Tropical:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Floating heart (Nymphoides aurantiaca) should be watered every 2 to 3 days, adding enough water to completely saturate the soil and keep it moist at all times. The soil should make a soft squelching sound when pressed with your finger in order to indicate that it is sufficiently moist. Over-watering should be avoided as this can cause root rot. Potted plants should be checked for dryness at the top of the soil, the sides of the pot, and underneath the pot. If the floating heart is planted outdoors or grown in an aquarium, check the water daily and top up as needed.

sunlight

Floating heart (Nymphoides aurantiaca) prefers a moderate amount of direct sunlight. For best growth, floating heart should be placed in full sun or partial shade with about 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. It also appreciates indirect light for the remaining time. During periods of intense summer sunshine, floating heart should be given some protection or a bit of additional shade to avoid sunburn.

pruning

Floating heart should be pruned back regularly throughout the growing season, starting in spring and continuing until late summer. To encourage bushiness and new growth, cut back stems to the base of the plant. Do not prune more than 1-third of the stems at a time. Pruning can also help control the spread of the plant. Floating Heart should also be trimmed back in the fall, after the foliage has died back, to ensure a nice, neat growth pattern in the coming season.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Floating heart typically starts flowering in late spring or early summer, usually between May and July.

Starts Flowering

Floating heart typically starts flowering in late spring or early summer, usually between May and July.

Hardiness Map