Introduced to China in 1901

Water hyacinth, a perennial aquatic plant, is native to the Amazon River Basin in South America. It is found in 19 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) in North China, East China, Central China and South China.

In 1884, it was brought to a horticultural exposition in the United States as an ornamental plant. At that time, it was predicted to be a "lavender corolla that beautifies the world" and quickly began its journey to the world.

Introduced to China in 1901, it also has a beautiful Chinese name "water hyacinth". It is beautiful but not delicate. It grows vigorously not only in potted flower pots, but also when abandoned or spread to the wild. In the 1950s and 1960s when food was scarce, the vigorous growth of water hyacinth was eye-catching. The strong vitality of this South American plant led to its promotion again, this time as pig and poultry feed. At the same time, it has a popular and more widely known name - water hyacinth.