Type Of Aquatic Garden Plants ... Marginal (Bog) Plants List

Margina Plants Sketch Marginal plants come in all shapes and sizes. They generally sit at the edge of the pool with the water lapping more or less at soil level. Some plants do well in a depth up to 15cm. It is a bit of a blurry line as to whether some plants are marginal or not

Marginal plants soften the edges of the pool area. They also mop up nutrients like nitrates and phosphates in the water. They provide secure cover for wildlife and as a safe hiding place for newly born fish fry. The also act as a bridge for wildlife to get in and around the pool. Many provide early spring colour, and the beauty of them in reflection and their often striking leaves and foliage also help make them an essential ingredient for the water garden.

Allow at least one plant for every 0.5sq m (5 sqft) of pond surface as a rule of thumb. Plant them in specially made aquatic baskets and place them in groups of the same variety if you have a large pond and intend t plant significant areas with marginals. In smaller garden ponds your chocie si more limited.

For owners of smaller garden ponds, take care in choosing some of the larger marginal plants like Reed Mace, Bulrushes and Norfolk Reed.

Marginal aquatics naturally grow in swamps or boggy ground.

Abbreviated List Of Marginal Plants ...

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Name Mature height in cm Water depth over soil in cm Flowering period Description
Acorus calamus. sweet flag 60 to 100 0 to 15 summer Dark green iris-like with a small, insignificant green horn-shaped bloom. Aromatic rootstock.
Alisma parviflorum 40 to 60 5 to 25 summer Attractive round leaves
Aponogeton distachyos 10 to 60 10 to 75 summer Oval-shaped shaped leaves with brown spots. Sweetly scented snow-white waxy flowers with jet black anthers. Second flowering during mid winter
Allium schoenoprasum 50 to 80 0 winter Grass like tubular, mid green leaves. Starry, rose pink flowers arranged in dense globular heads.
Berula erecta. lesser water parsnip 30 to 60 0 to 10 July to September Narrow, irregularly serrate leaves. Tiny flowers.
Butomus umbellatus. flowering rush 60 to 100 3 to 25 winter Triangular sword shaped leaves, red in spring turning to dark green. Rose-pink flowers are produced in umbels.
Cella palustris. bog arum 15 to 25 3 to 25 winter A rambling plant with heart shaped leaves, arum-like white flowers followed by right red seed heads.
Caltha palustris. marsh marigold; king cup 30 to 50 0 to 15 spring Slightly serrated dark green leaves with single yellow flowers.
Carex riparia. great pond sedge 90 to 120 0 to 25 winter A coarse grass with broad leaves and brown spikelets.
Carex riparia Bowles Golden 30 to 50 8 to 20 winter Most decorative sedge for shallow water, with beautiful rich golden-yellow foliage.
Carex riparia Variegata. variegated pond sedge 30 to 50 8 to 20 winter A coarse grass with broad green and white leaves.
Cotula coronopifolia. brass buttons 20 to 40 0 to 20 winter A pretty creeping plant with numerous bright yellow flowers like buttons. An annual that seeds well and is suitable for colonizing.
Cyperus longus. sweet galingale 60 to 120 3 to 25 summer Dark green grass like pendulous foliage with brown  flowers.
Dicchromena colorata. star grass 40 to 60 2 to 5 winter to spring Five bracks in an attractive green and white star-shaped cascade.
Geum rivale. water avens 30 to 50 0 to 15 winter and spring Nodding bell shaped red flowers.
Glyceria aquatica. manna grass 50 to 80 10 to 40 winter A stout reed like grass with a branched panicle of greenish spikelets.
Hippuris vulgaris. mares tail 25 to 30 2 to 15 winter Stems stand stiffly out of water, densely packed with whorls of narrow foliage.
Houttuynia cordata Chameleon 20 to 50 0 to 5 spring Red, yellow and green tricolour cordate leaves with red stems. Single white flowers.
Hydrocotyle vulgaris 30 to 40 0 to 10 winter Creeping habit round crenate foliage. Small white flowers
Iris ensata (Iris kaempferi) 60 to 90 0 to 10 summer 0 winter winter Clematis flowered iris with colours varying through white, blue, red, violet and crimson, often with bold and elaborate markings
Juncus effusus. common rush; soft rush 30 to 120 0 to 25 winter Dark green stems and dark brown inflorescence.
Juncus ensifolius. sword leaved rush. 55 to 70 0 to 15 winter Bright green grass-like foliage, dark brown inflorescence.
Lobelia fulgens 80 to 100 0 to 5 spring Purplish-red foliage and stalks bearing brilliant red flowers.
Lychnis flos-coculi. ragged robin 50 to 75 0 to 10 winter Ragged rose pink flowers.
Lysichiton americanus. skunk cabbage. 60 to 100 0 to 30 summer Bright yellow arum- shaped are followed by very large dark green leaves.
Mentha aquatica. water mint 30 to 60 0 to 20 summer Egg-shaped serrated leaves with whorls of lilac flowers. Strong mint scent
Menyanthes trifoliate. buck bean 30 to 40 5 to 30 spring Trifoliate olive-green foliage. Delicate white flowers tipped with pink. A rambling plant suitable for hiding pool edges.
Mimulus Queen Prize 0 to 20 0 to 15 winter Serrated ovate leaves with variable red and yellow mottled flowers.
Myosotis scorpioides. water forget-me not 20 to 30 15 to 40 winter Elongated, spoon-shaped, hairy leaves with clusters of small white blue flowers.
Myosotis scorpioides Mermaid 20 to 30 15 to 40 winter Thicker stems and darker foliage. The larger flowers are deep blue with yellow eye.
Myriophyllum aquaticum. parrot's feather 20 to 30 15 to 40 spring Very pale green feathery foliage with insignificant flowers. Strong creeping habit. Will not survive severe winter unless submerged in deep water.
Nymphoides peltata. Villarsia; water fringe   10 to 60 summer Pale green serrated leaves with purple blotching. A good surface cover plant having a profusion of bright yellow flowers
Orontium aquaticum. golden club 30 to 50 25 to 40 summer Velvety bluish-green leaves with a silvery underside. The beautiful yellow flowers appear on white stems.
Peltandra undulata green arrow arum 30 to 60 5 to 30 winter Firm, strongly veined, bright green leaves, also arrow-shaped. The green arum-shaped flowers are followed by green berries.
Phalaris arundinacea var. picta. reed canary grass 75 to 150 0 to 15 summer Grass type aquatic with green and white striped leaves.
Phragmites australis. norfolk reed 180 to 300 0 to 50 summer A strong growing grass with broad, glossy leaves and heavy purple or violet plumes of flowers. Stems are used for thatching.
Pontederia cordata. pickerel weed 60 to 80 10 to 30 spring Heart-shaped green leaves with clusters of closely packed blue flowers borne on a spike.
Ranunculus flammula. lesser spearwort 20 to 30 5 to 20 winter Small laceolate leaves with branching stems holding large numbers of small yellow buttercup-shaped flowers.
Ranunculus lingua Grandiflorus. great spearwort 60 to 90 10 to 30 winter Long ovate deep green leaves with buttercup-type flowers.
Rumex hydrolpathum. great water dock 120 to 180 0 to 25 winter Bold, dark green dock-like leaves. Large flower spike
Sagittaria latifolia. duck potato 40 to 120 5 to 40 winter Large arrow-shaped leaves. Clear white flowers about 3 cm across with dark centers.
Sagittaria sagittifolia. arrowhead 40 to 90 5 to 40 winter Three types of leaves are produced, linear submerged, oval floating and arrow-shaped emergent. The attractive white flowers have dark brown centers.
Typha angustifolia. reed mace 120 to 240 5 to 30 winter Long narrow shiny leaves with brown velvety flower spikes.
Veronica beccabunga. brooklime 20 to 30 0 to 15 summer A very prolific succulent plant with smooth ovate leaves and clusters of bright blue flowers.
Zantedeschia aethiopica Crowborough. arum lily 50 to 100 0 to 25 spring Glossy arrow-shaped leaves and large pure white fragrant arum flowers having a deep golden yellow spathe.

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