Pistia stratiotes is typically a tropical plant and likes a great deal of moist heat. Aquariums having a raised top cover and lights built in are not ideal for this plant, as they are likely to dry the leaves, which in turn go white.
The light green, fluted, velvety leaves spread out from the centre like the petals of a flower, and under suitable conditions will reach a diameter of 4 in.
The roots supply a spawning ground for the surface egg layers, but aren’t dense sufficient to be perfect.
It propagates by surface runner, and prefers shallow water.