Water Hyacinth is a free-floating perreninal native to South America. The leaves are 4–8 inches across on a stem, which is floating by means of buoyant bulb-like nodules at its base above the water surface. They have long, spongy, bulbous stalks. The feathery, freely hanging roots are purple-black. An erect stalk supports a single spike of 8–15 conspicuously attractive flowers, mostly lavender to pink in colour with six petals.
 
Water Hyacinth is one of the fastest growing plants, and form a mat on the water's surface which shades the water and provides habitat for fish and tadpoles. The mats can double in size every one to two weeks, but die back in the winter, as they do not tolerate cold temperatures. Water Hyacinths can absorb a huge amount of heavy metals from the water, therefore, they are a great addition for wetland rehabilitation sites, or filtering excess nutrient runoffs. Water hyacinth roots provide food for fish and turtles nibble on the leaves.