WHERE can I trade/sell water hyacinths?

It sounds like they're not allowed any where and I'm not for spreading invasive and aggressive plants but my neighbor has hundreds of these and wants me to do something with them.

What zones or states are these plants safe in? I don't even want to risk borderline states.

CaptMicha, I think you'll probably have to dispose of them. I would put them in a tied plastic bag and then inside another trash bag with the rest of my refuge. Maybe you can compost them, but I hope someone else with more experience than me will "chime" in here. I know it's a shame to discard, but they are considered invasive by law in some states. I don't have any myself, just water lilies and lotus.

I really like the water hyacinth. They do grow very aggressively and if they get out of hand I just compost them. I would think that anywhere that gets a hard freeze (consistent winter temps below 32 degrees) would be safe as they are tropical plants. But you might want to check to make sure you are not violating laws in your state regarding invasive plants by selling them.

Compost them or burn them. Sorry. They've choked the very life out of more lakes and streams here in SE Texas than you can shake a stick at. They're like a horrible flu. Absolutely gorgeous, I'll admit, but don't take the chance of spreading them.

Edited to say if you toss them and something breaches the bag, they'll take over any water at or near the dump. And then they'll spread from there.

This message was edited Jul 25, 2006 12:24 PM

I'd love to have a bag full if you want to send them! I've traded for a ton of lettuce and hyacinth and they just have not made a dent in covering the pond. They are not hardy here and they will croak as soon as cold weather sets in.

She keeps buying a few for $5 at a garden store every year and they just take off from there.

Same here
I have to pay 4.50 for one tiny plant
and when the do get out of control I feed them to my chickens
when frost comes they die

I bought 5 at $4.99 per planrt and now I have to compost them!!! Try ebay. Bellie

I'd like some if anyone is offering. . . .

I was just at a local demonstration garden last week and the guy who takes care of there pond was telling us that water hyacinth is excelent in compost as green matter (kind similar to grass clippings). Also FYI he was saying that they throw any excess algae into the compost too.
I personally don't have a water garden (hopefully one of these days I can get one together) but a friend who's house I sit when he's on vacation has a small pool turned large pond and it constantly gets overrun with the hyacinth. He was so excited when I told him he could do something productive with his bounty!

I would also be interested in some. I traded for some this spring but also bought some on ebay and they were very reasonable. They just bagged them in a little water and these things were huge when I got them. I think they were only about 1.50 a piece plus shipping.
Kim

I think finding good prices on them must be hit or miss. When you can find them here, they are usually about $4-5. My neighbor bought a whole garbage bag full at a flea market for $5 last year! Hmph. You think he got me any?? LOL