Dwarf Water Lettuce
Pistia stratiotes
Synonyms Water lettuce · Water cabbage
Dwarf Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) is a floating plant for the surface, growing to about 10 cm (3.9 in) at a fast pace. It wants 68–86°F (20–30°C), medium light and no CO₂, and counts as an easy plant to keep alive.
At a glance
| Type | Floating plant |
|---|---|
| Light | MediumThe least light it survives in, not the light it looks best in. |
| CO₂ | Not neededWhether it survives without added CO₂ — not whether CO₂ would help it grow faster. |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Temperature | 68–86°F (20–30°C) |
| Max height | 10 cm (3.9 in)Grown submersed, left to mature, never trimmed. |
| Growth rate | Fast |
| Placement | floating |
| pH | 6–8 |
Before it goes in
- Dwarf Water Lettuce needs medium light. Under a low-light LED it thins out instead of filling in.
- It grows without CO₂.
- Its leaves are medium: Goldfish, Electric Yellow Lab and Colombian Ramshorn Snail will eat it.
Can it grow without CO₂?
Yes. Dwarf Water Lettuce does not need CO₂ at all.
How much light does it need?
Medium light — and that is the survival line, not the “it looks better” line.
How big does it get?
About 10 cm (3.9 in) tall when it is mature and untrimmed, growing fast, and it does not root at all.
Will my fish eat it?
Its leaves are medium, so some will: Goldfish, Electric Yellow Lab and Colombian Ramshorn Snail.
What it goes with
- Plants that run on the same light and CO₂, so they can share a tank without one of them being the odd one out: Hygrophila corymbosa 'Siamensis', Anubias nana 'Petite', Cryptocoryne wendtii and Hygrophila corymbosa 'Compact'.
- Animals that share its temperature range and will not eat or uproot it: Betta, Cherry Shrimp, Angelfish and Bristlenose Pleco.
Often compared with
| Dwarf Water Lettuce | Water Sprite | Frogbit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Medium | Low | Low |
| CO₂ | Not needed | Not needed | Not needed |
| Max height | 10 cm | 40 cm | 5 cm |
| Difficulty | Easy | Easy | Easy |
More plants
Sources (1)
- Difficulty, Root feedingaquaticarts.comSep 2026