Floating Plants

Fairy Moss, Water Fern, Mosquito Fern

Azolia filiculoides
(syn.A.caroliniana)

A small perennial fern that forms clusters of soft green leaves, this plant provides seasonal colour as the leaves turn purplish-red in autumn.
It can be invasive as each leaf is attached to a single fine root, so regular thinning is necessary. Overwinter in a frost free place as it can be slightly tender.

Spread indefinite
Half-hardy
Full sun
Propogation by division

Water Hyacinth

Eichornia crassipes
(syn.E.speciosa)

This attractive evergreen or semi-evergreen floating plant forms clumps of buoyant foliage attached to spongy stalks.
During the summer it produces hyacinth-like flowers which are pale blue in colour and 15-23cm (6-9") high.
It will root in any mud in shallow water but needs to be in a sheltered position in order to thrive.

Height 23-30cm (9-12")
Spread indefinite
Tender
Full sun
Propogation by division in spring or summer

Ivy Leaved Duckweed

Lemna trisulca

Usually most duckweeds are too invasive for a small pond but this species is not quite as vigorous and can be netted off if it gets out of hand.
Except during flowering time the light green leaves are just below the surface, each having a single rootlet and measuring 1cm across.

Spread indefinite
Hardy
Sun or shade
Propogation by division

Water Lettuce, Shellflower

Pistia stratiotes

A floating aquatic that is deciduous, but can be evergreen in warmer climates, providing the temperatures does not drop below 10 deg C (50 deg F).
It has overlapping pale, green leaves, which are lettuce-like in their arrangement. They are velvety to the touch and whitish-green on the underside.
New plants should be kept thinned in summer.

Height 23-30cm (9-12")
Spread indefinite
Water depth to 90cm (3ft) Tender
Sun
Propogation by separating plantlets

Butterfly Fern

Salvinia auriculata

Evergreen in warm climates where temperatures are no lower than 10 deg C (50 deg F) this floating fern has pale green or purplish brown leaves.
They are covered in silky hairs that are tightly arranged on branched stems.

Height 2.5cm (1")
Spread indefinite
Tender
Full sun
Propogation by separating the stems

Water Soldier

Stratiotes aloides

A perennial that is semi-evergreen and forms rosettes of prickly olive-green leaves 50cm (20") long and 2.5cm (1") wide, with serrated edges.
 The tips of these leaves can often be seen above the surface. In summer the plant tries to surface in order to produce it's cup-shaped, white flowers that are sometimes tinged with pink, they are about 4cm across.

Height 40cm (16") Spread indefinite
Water depth to 90cm (3ft) Hardy
Sun
Propogation by removing offsets