Eichhornia sp.
Water hyacinth, Water Hyacinth
Family: Pontederiaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Eichhornia sp. (Water hyacinth) is a non-native California perennial in the Pontederiaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Heteranthera: Eichhornia has swollen balloon-like leaf stalks and many-flowered clusters; Heteranthera has thin petioles and single flowers.; vs Monochoria: Eichhornia floats freely with inflated stems; Monochoria is rooted with non-inflated stems.; vs Azolla: Eichhornia is large with showy flower spikes; Azolla is tiny floating fern without flowers.; vs Pistia: Eichhornia has balloon-like leaf stalks; Pistia has wedge-shaped velvety leaves in rosettes.; vs Salvinia: Eichhornia has large glossy leaves with inflated stalks; Salvinia has tiny paired leaves without inflation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eichhornia sp. native to California?
No. Eichhornia sp. is not native to California (recorded as not native).
What plant family does Eichhornia sp. belong to?
Eichhornia sp. is in the Pontederiaceae family, genus Eichhornia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.