Eichhorna azurea - Water Hyacinth

Eicchornia azurea is an aquatic plant appreciated for its long and generous blue-violet flowering that lasts all summer until the first frost. Whether floating or rooted under 20 cm of water, this semi-hardy plant needs sun and warmth to flower well. In mild climates, its vegetation disappears completely in winter and reappears in spring. Elsewhere, place a few specimens in a basin filled with water in a bright and frost-free room.

From the family of Pontederiaceae, the Eichhornia azurea is a freshwater aquatic plant native to South America. It forms vast floating mats like its famous cousin, the water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes. Considered invasive in Brazil and French Guiana, you have nothing to worry about in our climates. Our temperatures are not tropical enough for this blue beauty, which perishes below -7 °C. It is a running plant that forms a dense carpet of leaves topped in the summer with clusters of blue flowers. Heterophyllous, the Eichornie azur has leaves of different shapes: the submerged ribbon-like leaves provide an ideal refuge for fish that may be in your pond, while the surface leaves are rounded, offering amphibians and insects a well-deserved resting area. Above the water, inflorescences appear composed of blue-lilac flowers with a deep blue heart maculated with yellow. The flowers are ephemeral but constantly renew themselves from June to October.

Eichhornia azurea will find its place in a sunny pond. Pair it with Lysimachia nummularia, which has numerous yellow flowers. In your pond, don't forget to place some oxygenating plants like Elodea canadensis or Hippuris vulgaris. On the banks, consider irises that also love the sun, such as Iris sibirica 'Not Quite White' with large white flowers or Iris ensata 'Activity' with white and violet flowers.