Bogside and Waterside Plants
These species of plants should be used in areas where the soil remains moist and damp and are ideal for alongside ponds, lakes and watercourses where the ground tends to be wet or boggy. They should not be planted in areas of standing water, become submerged or waterlogged.
Most of these species are suited to mass plantings to achieve a natural look.
Species include – Caltha palustris, Myosotis scorpoides, Cardamine pratensis, Butomus umbellatus.
Caltha palustris
Cardamine pratensis
Myosotis scorpoides
Mentha aquatica
Alisma plantago aquatica
Meyanthes trifoliata
Caltha palustrus
Cardamine pratensis
Myosotis scorpoides
Marginal Plants
These species of plants should be planted in the shallow waters at the edges and margins of ponds and lakes. Most of them can withstand some spells of drought and short periods of seasonal flooding.
Most tolerate boggy areas quite happily and can be planted in water up to 300mm deep.
As a general rule, dependant on pot size 4 – 6 plants per 1m². Massed plantings lend themselves to a natural effect.
Species include – Carex species, Glyceria maxima, Phalaris arundinacea, Lythrum salicaria, Pharagmities communis, Geum rivale.
Lythrum Salicaria
Carex acutiformis
Lythrum salicaria
Geum rivale
Scutellaria galericulata
Lysimachia vulgaris
Oxygenating Plants
Our native oxygenating plants are a vital addition to any pond or stream. They remove carbon dioxide from the water and give out oxygen which is necessary for fish and amphibious life and reduced algal growth.
Plants should be introduced to the pond in spring and are best ‘seeded’ by use of weighted jute bags – these break down after a period leaving the plants to root into the soil. We would recommend a rate of 2 – 5 plants per 1m².
Most species once established will persist but generally die back in autumn and winter.
Species include – Potamogetan natans, Ranunculus aquatills, Ceratophyllum demersum.
Potomogetan Natans
Ranunculus acquatilis
Floating Plants
Most of our native floating plants are emergent in the spring and summer when water temperatures rise. They are dormant during the autumn and winter and survive as pips or bulblets that sink to the pond floor. They are perennial plants. New plants should be introduced to the pond in spring. As a general rule 6 – 8 plants per 1m².
Species include – Stratiotes aloides, Hydrocharis morsus–ranae, Callitriche stagnalis.
Stratiotes aloides
Hydrocharis morsus-ranae
Calitriche stagnalis
Reed Beds
In botanical terms a reed bed is a stand, often extensive, of Phragmites communis - Common Reed. These occur naturally in various locales but always within shallow water bodies often with fluctuations of a metre over the seasons.
Phragmites tolerate a wide spectrum of conditions including colonising brackish water. Phragmites is a heavy feeder and is a filter plant able to help clean contaminated water and is used extensively for final sewerage works.
In normal conditions of restoration and contamination purposes a planting rate of a minimum of 4 number mature plants per 1 metre square is recommended.
We raise our stock from seed that is collected in January and February and then processed and raised as plugs.
A seed collection service to ensure local provenance is available.
Pharagmities communis
Pharagmities communis
Root trainer
Pharagmities communis