No, it is a free floating aquatic plant.

How fast does it grow?

It can double its population in just a few days under ideal conditions.

Plant guide

Watermeal.

Wolffia globosa

Pronounced WOL-fee-uh glo-BO-suh

Also known as Asian Watermeal

Asian watermeal — Photo by Andrey Zharkikh (CC BY) via iNaturalist

Watermeal is a tiny, rootless aquatic plant that floats on the surface of still water. It is actually one of the smallest flowering plants on the planet. You will often find it growing in dense mats alongside other duckweed species.

Another photo of Watermeal — Photo by chiuluan (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Aquatic floating plant
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 0 days
Mature size: 1 millimeter
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 11
Bloom time: Rarely blooms, typically in summer

Care

Keep this plant in a container with still water that has plenty of nutrients. Watch for the water turning stagnant or losing clarity, which can signal a need for a partial water change. Ensure it gets plenty of light to keep the colonies thriving.

Watering: This plant lives entirely submerged or floating in water.
Feeding: Add a small amount of liquid aquatic fertilizer if the water lacks nutrients.
Pruning: Scoop out excess plants with a net to prevent them from covering the entire water surface.
Repotting: Repotting is not applicable as this plant does not grow in soil.
Soil: None, aquatic
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: 15 to 30°C
Humidity: 70 to 100%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, indefinite with proper water conditions
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Water surface becomes overcrowded
Growth rate slows significantly

Safety

People: This plant is generally considered safe and is consumed as a vegetable in parts of Southeast Asia.
Children: Due to its tiny size, it poses a minor choking hazard if ingested in large quantities by very small children.
Edibility: Ensure the water source is clean and free of contaminants before considering consumption, as this plant readily absorbs heavy metals.

How to identify it

Tiny green granular floating fronds
Lacks any visible roots
Individual plants are pinhead sized
Forms dense mats on water
Rarely produces visible flowers

Height: 0 to 0.01m
Spread: 0 to 0.01m
Leaves: bright green, deciduous
Flowers: white, 0.1 to 0.2cm

Problems to watch for

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: division
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: Move containers indoors to a bright, warm location before water temperatures drop below 15°C.
In containers: Excellent for small bowls or ponds, provided the water is kept still.

Division

1. Scoop a small portion of the plants from the surface.
2. Place the portion into a new container with nutrient rich water.
3. Ensure the water remains still to encourage rapid growth.

Keep the water surface clear of debris to allow maximum light penetration for growth.

Grows well with

Water Hyacinth · They share similar aquatic requirements.

Similar species

Common Duckweed · It is a related floating plant but significantly larger.

Science

Family: Araceae
Genus: Wolffia
Order: Alismatales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: Tropical and subtropical Asia; introduced elsewhere.
Conservation: Not of conservation concern as it is a prolific grower in suitable aquatic environments.

It thrives in still or slow moving nutrient rich waters where it forms dense mats.

Value to wildlife: provides cover for small aquatic organisms, food for waterfowl and some fish
Uses: aquatic food source, water purification, ornamental pond plant

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 8/9
Moisture: 9/9
Nutrients: 8/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need soil?: No, it is a free floating aquatic plant.
How fast does it grow?: It can double its population in just a few days under ideal conditions.

Where the name comes from

The genus is named after the German botanist Johann Friedrich Wolff, while globosa refers to its spherical shape.

Good to know

It lacks roots entirely.
It is often called water meal.
It has a very high protein content.
It reproduces primarily through budding.

Keep your watermeal growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.