OtterKnow Kids Encyclopedia

Water hyacinths are floating plants with beautiful purple and violet flowers that live on top of lakes, rivers, and ponds! They have thick, spongy leaves filled with tiny air pockets that help the plant stay afloat. Water hyacinths originally came from South America.

Their roots do not grow in the dirt like most plants. Instead, they dangle down into the water like a feathery curtain, and fish love to hide in them. The thick, spongy leaves are filled with air pockets, almost like little balloons. Each flower has six pretty petals with a special yellow spot.