🌿 Meet the Plants of Lake Toho
A Vibrant Botanical World Beneath and Above the Waterline
Just beyond the roar of the airboat engine lies a world of lush aquatic vegetation that breathes life into Lake Tohopekaliga’s 22,700 acres. From floating blooms to rooted underwater forests, the lake’s rich plant diversity is what supports its entire ecosystem—and makes every Crazy Gator tour so visually captivating.
Let’s explore the native and non-native plant species you’ll encounter on your adventure.
🪷 American White Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata)
Floating serenely in protected pockets of the lake, the American white water lily is both beautiful and ecologically essential. Its broad, waxy leaves reduce water temperature by shading the surface, while the striking white blossoms attract native pollinators like bees and beetles.
Growth style: Free-floating, rooted
Where to spot: Calm, shallow coves
Fun fact: Each flower opens in the morning and closes by mid-afternoon
🌱 Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)
Hydrilla may be invasive, but it now plays a key role in Lake Toho’s ecology. This submerged plant grows in dense mats and provides critical cover for fish and oxygenates the water. Our captains often navigate around it, especially in summer when growth peaks.
Growth style: Fully submerged
Where to spot: Just below the surface in most of the lake
Fun fact: It can grow up to an inch per day
🌿 Spatterdock (Nuphar advena)
Often mistaken for lily pads, spatterdock leaves are more leathery and emerge above the waterline on thick stems. Their yellow cup-like flowers are visible much of the year, making them a favorite sight along airboat routes.
Growth style: Rooted in the lakebed, leaves above water
Where to spot: Along lake margins and marshy inlets
Fun fact: Their roots help prevent shoreline erosion
đź’ś Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)
Rising upright from the shallows, pickerelweed adds vibrant color with tall spikes of violet-blue flowers. But beneath the surface, its submerged portions are just as important—anchoring the plant and filtering sediment from the water.
Growth style: Emergent perennial
Where to spot: Edges of marshy shorelines
Fun fact: Pickerelweed leaves were once used as natural food wrappers by Native Americans
🏹 Arrowhead (Sagittaria lancifolia)
Named for its distinctive arrow-shaped leaves, this emergent plant often grows in colonies. It thrives in ditches and shallow wetlands surrounding Lake Toho and is an excellent indicator of clean, nutrient-rich water.
Growth style: Emergent
Where to spot: Wetland edges and slow-draining channels
Fun fact: Also called “duck potato” due to its edible underground tubers
🪻 Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
With their bulbous stalks and delicate purple blossoms, water hyacinths float freely across the lake’s surface. Though non-native, they often appear in clusters and create floating islands that shelter young fish.
Growth style: Free-floating
Where to spot: Inlets and wind-protected areas
Fun fact: Their air-filled stems help them float and reproduce rapidly
🌿 Maidencane (Panicum hemitomon)
This tall, grass-like species forms dense stands in shallow water. Maidencane plays a crucial role in stabilizing shorelines and providing a natural buffer against wave erosion from passing airboats.
Growth style: Emergent grass
Where to spot: Near shores and on the edges of marsh islands
Fun fact: It spreads via underground rhizomes and survives both drought and flood
🌱 Duckweed (Lemna minor)
Tiny but mighty, duckweed forms green blankets on the surface of still water. Despite their size, these floating plants play a key role in nitrogen absorption and are a favorite food source for aquatic waterfowl and fish.
Growth style: Floating, free-floating
Where to spot: Quiet bays and stagnant pools
Fun fact: Duckweed reproduces so quickly it’s studied for wastewater treatment
🛶 Why Plant Life Matters on Your Airboat Tour
Every Crazy Gator Airboat Tour is more than a thrill ride—it’s a chance to observe the engine of the wetland at work. These plants oxygenate the water, prevent erosion, offer wildlife refuge, and filter the very water we glide across. When you see a field of lilies or a curtain of pickerelweed—you’re seeing Florida’s wetlands at their most resilient and beautiful.
📍 Ready to See Florida’s Wild Garden?
Book your adventure with Crazy Gator Airboat Tours and experience Lake Tohopekaliga’s lush aquatic landscape firsthand.
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