This rooted perennial, Frog’s Bit, can also survive free-floating. The rounded green to red leaves are leathery and somewhat thick growing up to 3 1/2 inches wide. The native floating plant has firm leaf stalks with ridges on both sides. Younger plant leaves are heart-shaped with rounded lobes, and a reddish tone underneath. Small, white flowers appear both submerged or above the water’s surface. Identifying characteristics of the flowers include 3 petals and 3 sepals. As with all aquatic plants, they provide ecological importance to the surrounding habitat providing numerous benefits to invertebrates.
