[2] N. peltata has spread outside its native range and now occurs in North America,[2] Ireland,[3] Sweden,[3] and New Zealand.

[3] In many of its introduced regions, N. peltata is considered a noxious weed because it can form dense mats that shade out native aquatic plant species, thereby reducing biodiversity, and also inhibit recreation.

[3] N. peltata is an aquatic bottom-rooted perennial species with underwater creeping stolons that extend up to 2 meters.

[4] N. peltata has cordate floating leaves that are 3–15 cm in diameter, green to yellow-green in color, have purple-tinted undersides, and are attach to submerged rhizomes.

[5] Each flower produces a 1.5–2.5 cm beaked capsule which hold many flattened seeds with stiff marginal hairs.

[3] N. variegata can be distinguished from N. peltata most easily by its larger leaves, which can measure up to 30 cm, and its cup-shaped flower.

[8] N. peltata is most commonly found in slow-moving rivers, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs, but it can also establish in swamps and wetlands.

[3] It is also known to occur in ditches, canals, break-through pools of dikes, and backwaters, especially those subject to winter flooding.

[11][12] In fall, the aboveground biomass of N. peltata dies, sinks to the substrate and decomposes, and the plant overwinters as dormant rhizomes.

[10] After winter, the species requires light and oxygen to produce new growth and floating leaves begin to appear in spring.

[14] Seeds are suited to adhering to surfaces such as the flanks, folds of skin on digit webs, and the short feathers on the heads of waterfowl, which are hydrophobic.

[2][10] In Canada, N. peltata has been found in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia, but has not yet been naturalized.

[16] N. peltata also affects internal fertilization patterns as it moves nitrogen and phosphorus up from the sediment to its floating biomass as it grows and releases these nutrients back into the ecosystem during its winter decomposition.

[18] Cutting, harvesting, and covering plants with barrier materials can sometimes result in a successful control effort.

[18] Nonetheless, repeated applications are necessary,[18] and spraying floating leaves shows 40-50% control for a single season.

[3] In Ireland, dichlobenil is no longer legally allowed to be used near or in waterbodies as it can potentially harm other aquatic organisms such as fish.