Water Hawthorn (Aponogenton)
Aponogeton distachyos is one of one of the most effective Deep-water aquatics, it’s a simple plant to grow with leaves which are often evergreen and flowers that appear for months on end. These curious flowers borne on spikes which float on the surface, each flower has waxy white petals and black anthers. The fragrance is powerful, variously described as 'vanilla and 'Hawthorn-like'. The oblong leaves are sometimes blotched with brown and also the eventual spread is about 2 ft. Unlike a Water Lily it should flourish in partial shade and moving water, but be sure that it’s deep enough for the tubers to be below the ice in winter.
Pond Lily (Nuphar)
This is certainly a relative of the Water Lily family but it isn’t as attractive as it's illustrious cousin. The flowers are small, rather plain and are carried on thick stems above the water. There are, however, a couple of distinct advantages, light ans shade is no problem and neither is moving water. For an average sized pond choose 'Nuphar minima' (N. pumila). The yellow flowers are about 1inch across and also the under-water foliage is translucent. Unfortunately, the types on offer can be the large ones like N. lutea (Brandy Bottle) with its 3 inch bottle shaped yellow flowers which smell strongly of alcohol. This is only ideal for a large pond or lake.
Water Fringe (Nymphoides)
There is simply one basic species - Nymphoides peltata, commonly known as Floating Heart. In the catalogues you may find it listed as Villarsia bennettii or Limnanthermum nymphoides. The miniature Water Lily-like leaves measure about 2 inches across and are sometimes crinkly edged and blotched or spotted with brown. The 11/2 inch yellow flower is more sort of a Buttercup than a Water Lily, and also the petal edges are fringed. The blooms are borne in small clusters. This is certainly a useful plant for giving rapid surface cover before Water Lilies have become established, however it might get out of hand.
Golden Club (Orontium)
Orontium aquaticum is a trouble free and non-invasive plant with only one fussy requrement, it does need a lot of soil, so ensure that you do plant it inside of a deep Water Lily basket. It will grow in shallow water, but it needs a planting depth of not less than 1ft. if you would like the leaves to float over the water surface instead of standing erect out of the water. The foliage is attractive with blue-green above and silvery below. The greatest feature of this member of the Arum family is the unusual flower head. This stands above the water similar to a pure white pencil with a tip which is coloured gold by a mass of tiny yellow florets. This is one aquatic plant that I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone.
Author Resource:
For my next article I will be writing in regards to the floating plants that you may consider placing into your pond. There are eight in particular that I want to mention so I might have to split them into a couple of 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 throughout the numerous years that I’ve been gardening.
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