These are some of my favourite floating aquatic plants that I use for my pond. The roots are submerged aided by the leaves and stems generously floating on the surface, the flowers, if you find any, above the surface. They are widely available from all good garden centres.
Azolla (Fairy Moss)
This really is the most generally available of all Foaters, plus the one that you’ll almost certainly be offered will be the Azolla caroliniana. It is a small fern with fronds which measure about 1/2 in. across. The dense mats of pale green leaves spread quite rapidly and if left unchecked the entire surface of your pond can become covered, so only introduce this plant where the pond is small enough that you can take away excess growth by using a net. In the summertime the fronds turn red whilst in the winter much of the plant is reduced by frost and ice. It is recommended to overwinter a few of the fern in any jam jar full of water and soil - reintroduce in April.
Eichornia (Water Hyacinth)
Eichornia crassipes is known as a menace to waterways in frost-free countries but it is a colourful Floater for outdoor ponds in Britain between June and September. The leaves are dark and glossy with swollen stems. The late summer flowers are extremely attractive- strong spikes bear Orchid-like blooms of blue, lavender and yellow. However, the catalogues sometimes forget to mention the flowers fail to appear in a cool summer season. Plant in June and take them indoors before the first frosts.
Hydrocharis (Frog-bit)
Hydrocharis morsus-renae is a sensible choice for a small pond or even a minipond, growth is then restrained along with a succession of little and short-lived white flowers appear in the summer. In autumn the foliage begins to die away and the plant survives in the bottom of the pond in the form of dormant buds. In early the summer time these rise towards the surface and growth begins again. When Hydrocharis isn’t in flower it looks a lot like a Water Lily. The green kidney formed leaves measure 1 - 2in. across. Overwinter some buds inside a jam jar with water and soil- put back into the pond in April.
Lemna (Duckweed)
Duckweed can be found in the catalogues, but do take care. You will see Lemna in stagnant ponds everywhere with a bright green blanket covering the surface. The standard pattern is a small leaf that has a root below along with a rapid rate of growth. Several types may be offered by your supplier and they do provide food for the fish along with providing shade for the water surface. In addition you can find L.gibba(thick duckweed) and L.polyrhiza (greater duckweed). Avoid them like they were the plague, the only one to consider is the much less invasive L. trisulca.
I hope people will find these small articles useful and informative, I do get pleasure from writing them so I hope you enjoy reading them just as much. Maybe I should add some pictures to go with the descriptions. I am always open to any suggestions to make my articles more interesting.
Author Resource:
For my next article I’ll be writing about a further four floating plants that you may consider placing into your pond. There are actually eight specifically that I would like to mention so I might have to separate them into several small articles. Happy reading to you all. I would certainly also like to take this chance to thank the 'gardener london ' company who have given me help and advise during the many years that I’ve been gardening.
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