Water lettuce

This water plant is grown for its beautiful, velvety foliage that really does resemble a dense carpet of lettuce heads flowering on the water. It can be an important plant for ponds as it shades the water and gives small fish a place to hide. In cold climates, treat this tender floating plant as an annual and replace every year.

Note: In warm-winter climates, water lettuce can be invasive. Check to see if the plant is banned in your area before planting it.