It also has been sold by mistake as another water fern, Salvinia minima, which had until recently been misidentified as Salvinia rotundifolia and had been considered to be native. Giant salvinia is expected to survive and grow readily in most of the aquatic and freshwater wetland environments in North Carolina. It has the potential to do severe environmental damage to our inland water resources, especially if it escapes and becomes established during the mild winters we have had during the past ten years or more. Within the next two or three weeks, water garden plants again will be available for sale at nurseries and dealerships. They also should watch for unusual growths of weeds in ponds, lakes, ditches, canals, and backwater areas of rivers and large reservoirs.
Immediate action is needed.
You can see excellent color photographs of this weed , along with its identifying characteristics, and examples of severe environmental problems it causes. He will provide information on sampling and submission of the suspected weed to confirm its identity. If the suspected plant does turn out to be giant salvinia, it will be necessary to notify appropriate government agencies. You may call our office 704.983.3987.