Watershield is a perennial plant with relatively small, floating oval to elliptical leaves (less than 5 inches in diameter) with no slit. Watershield has a distinctive gelatinous slime on the underside of the leaves and coating the stems.

Leaves are green above while the underside and stems are reddish-purple. Stems attach at the center of the leaves. Flowers are small and dull-reddish in color.

Watershield tends to be found in soft, acidic waters and can form large invasive colonies. Control with aquatic herbicides is recommended to prevent spreading.