Marginals
Marginal plants are key for creating a healthy balanced pond, as well as providing height, colour and interest to your planting scheme. These plants will attract a variety of flying insects, whilst their foliage will give aquatic wildlife shelter for hiding and nesting.
True marginal plants can tolerate waterlogged soil, or water over their crown, all year round. They are typically found around the margins of ponds, in shallow water. When planting marginals it is important to refer to the recommended planting depth. This refers to the depth of water tolerated above the crown of the plant, typically the depth of water above the soil level. A plant that prefers a planting depth of 0-10cm can be grown anywhere from waterlogged soil (0cm) up to 10cm of water above the crown.
True marginal plants can tolerate waterlogged soil, or water over their crown, all year round. They are typically found around the margins of ponds, in shallow water. When planting marginals it is important to refer to the recommended planting depth. This refers to the depth of water tolerated above the crown of the plant, typically the depth of water above the soil level. A plant that prefers a planting depth of 0-10cm can be grown anywhere from waterlogged soil (0cm) up to 10cm of water above the crown.
Acorus gramineus 'Ogon'
Slender Sweet Flag 'Ogon'
Stock
6 in stock
Description Semi-evergreen, growing in wide fans, this plant forms into large low growing clumps. It has striking, narrow, bright yellow leaves, striped with yellow-ish green.
Acorus gramineus variegatus
Variegated Slender Sweet Flag
Stock
4 in stock
Description Semi-evergreen, growing in short wide clumps. It has narrow, green leaves, striped with creamy-yellow.
Anemopsis californica
Apache beads
Stock
20 in stock
Description An attractive scented plant ideal for shallow water. Their green leaves turn red in autumn and once dried can be used for potpourri. Their seeds are often used as beads for necklaces hence it’s common name.
Caltha palustris
Marsh Marigold
Stock
25 in stock
Description Also known as King Cup and Cow Lily, this is a great plant for introducing colour in early spring, producing large yellow buttercup like flowers. After flowering it will die back, occasionally appearing for a second flowering in autumn.
Houttuynia cordata 'Boo Boo'
'Boo Boo'
Stock
15 in stock
Description A lovely pond plant with a long flowering period, from May to September. Its crinkle effect, scented leaves turn bright red in autumn.
Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon'
Harlequin Plant
Stock
15 in stock
Description An attractive plant with variegated red, cream and green leaves from late spring through to early autumn, producing brightest colours when positioned in full sun. Its summer flowers have yellow flower spikes, with four white petals at the base.
Houttuynia cordata 'Plena'
Orange Peel Plant
Stock
15 in stock
Description A lovely pond plant with a long flowering period, from May to September. Its leaves smell of orange peel.
Iris louisiana 'Ann Chowning'
Iris 'Ann Chowning'
Stock
4 in stock
Description A stunning iris with cherry red falls and a bright yellow signal, set off beautifully against its light green strap like leaves.
Iris louisiana 'Black Gamecock'
Iris louisiana 'Gamecock'
Stock
10 in stock
Description A stunning iris with dark purple falls and a bright yellow signal.
Mentha cervina
Water Spearmint
Stock
20 in stock
Description Slower growing than Mentha aquatica. A bee friendly plant.
Scirpus cernuus
Fibre optic plant
Stock
18 in stock
Description A fantastic native evergreen oxygenator / marginal that has a place in most garden ponds.
Typha minima
Miniature Bulrush
Stock
50 in stock
Description Also known as Miniature Reedmace, this Typha has perfect miniature form, producing round, brown coloured seed heads, ideal for adding interest to a pond margins.
This is the only typha suitable for small to medium garden ponds. It will spread steadily, but is still best contained to a basket.
Zephyranthes candida
White Rain Lily
Stock
4 in stock
Description A deciduous or evergreen perennial with a stunning white crocus like flower in late summer.
Acorus calamus
Sweet Flag
Stock
Sold out
Description A non-invasive clump-forming green rush with sweetly scented leaves and horn shaped blooms. Will steadily spread in shallow water or wet ground.
Anagallis tenella
Bog Pimpernel
Stock
In stock, collection only
Description A fantastic marginal to help hide pond liners and creep amongst rocks and pebbles. The rose pink flowers smell of honey.
Baldellia ranunculoides
Lesser water plantain
Stock
In stock, collection only
Description Lesser water plantain
is a tiny slow growing native plant producing pale lilac / white flowers.
Butomus umbellatus
Flowering Rush
Stock
In stock, collection only
Description A tall British native rush that has long, narrow, dark green leaves and produces pretty umbrella headed pink flowers. This plant is perfect for providing egg laying sites for adult dragonfly as well as perching and roosting sites.
Caltha palustris 'Alba'
White Himalayan Marigold
Stock
In stock, collection only
Description This is a great plant for introducing colour in early spring. It produces delicate white flowers. After flowering it will die back, occasionally appearing for a second flowering in autumn.
Caltha palustris 'Plena'
Double Marsh Marigold
Stock
In stock, collection only
Description A more ornamental version of the Marsh Marigold
Carex Muskingumensis
Musk Sedge
Stock
Sold out
Description A great architectural plant, adding height and depth to your marginal border. Musk sedge is semi-evergreen, producing feathered, finely tapering, light green foliage.
Carex pseudocyperus
Cyperus Sedge
Stock
Sold out
Description A tuft forming perennial with bright yellow-green foliage and abundant bristly green or brown flower heads.
Dichromena colorata
Star Grass
Stock
In stock, collection only
Description An unusual marginal producing star shaped flowers.
Equisetum hyemale
Dutch Rush
Stock
Sold out
Description A robust evergreen perennial grown for it’s architectural and winter interest. Equisetum are also known as horsetails so must be grown in containers to restrict their rhizomes.
Iris laevigata 'Snowdrift'
Iris 'Snowdrift'
Stock
Sold out
Description Producing double white flowers, this iris puts on quite a display. Pure white falls are marked with a yellow signal, while the standards are flashed with lilac.
Iris laevigata 'Variegata'
Iris 'Variegata'
Stock
Sold out
Description This iris has distinctive green, narrow leaves heavily striped with creamy-white. It produces flowers with purple-blue falls marked with a white signal.
Iris laevigata 'Weymouth Blue'
Iris 'Weymouth Blue'
Stock
Sold out
Description This vibrant iris has light green, arching, sword-like leaves, and flowers with purple-blue falls marked with a white signal.
Iris louisiana 'Her Highness'
Iris 'Her Highness'
Stock
Sold out
Description An elegant iris with strap-like, mid to bright green leaves, and flowers with creamy-white falls marked with a yellow signal.
Iris pseudacorus 'Alba'
Iris 'Alba'
Stock
Sold out
Description A native aquatic iris, its flowers have creamy white-pale yellow falls marked with a yellow signal delicately outlined with charcoal grey.
Iris pseudacorus 'Bastardii'
Iris 'Bastardii'
Stock
Sold out
Description A great performer, with greyish green strap-like foliage producing flowers marked with cream-pale yellow falls.
Iris pseudacorus 'Creme de la creme'
Iris 'Creme de la creme'
Stock
Sold out
Description The crème de la crème! A lovely iris with sword shaped, grey green leaves, and flowers displaying creamy-white falls with delicate purple veins.
Iris pseudacorus
Yellow Flag
Stock
Sold out
Description A native aquatic iris, it has bright yellow falls marked with a yellow signal.
Iris robusta 'Gerald Derby'
Iris 'Gerald Derby'
Stock
Sold out
Description This iris has attractive arching deep purple-black stems coming from long green leaves with purple staining at the base. Each stem produces 4 or 5 flowers with purple-blue falls, marked with a yellow and white signal and dark purple-blue veins.
Iris versicolor 'Kermesina'
Iris 'Kermesina'
Stock
In stock, collection only
Description A beautiful iris with strappy green leaves, branched stems bearing up to 5 flowers with plummy reddish purple falls, marked with a yellow and white signal and purple veins.
Juncus ensifolius
Flying Hedgehogs
Stock
In stock, collection only
Description Bright and upright marginal with spiky hedgehog like seed heads.
Lobelia fulgens 'Queen Victoria'
Cardinal Flower
Stock
Sold out
Description This short lived herbaceous perennial will bring a late splash of summer colour, with deep purple leafed stems and bright scarlet flowers.
Luronium natans
Floating Water Plantain
Stock
In stock, collection only
Description Floating Water Plantain
Mazus reptans 'Albus'
White Chinese Marshflower
Stock
Sold out
Description A white version of the Chinese Marshflower; this low growing, creeping perennial is an excellent plant for very shallow margins and beach areas (not submerged). It will form dense mats of green foliage, and produce masses of blue-lilac flowers with gold spotted white centres.
Mazus reptans
Chinese Marshflower
Stock
Sold out
Description This low growing, creeping perennial is an excellent plant for very shallow margins and beach areas (not submerged). It will form dense mats of green foliage, and produce masses of blue-lilac flowers with gold spotted white centres.
Mentha aquatica
Water Mint
Stock
Sold out
Description A true native plant with strong scented pink-lilac flowers. Great for attracting bees and other pollinating insects.
Menyanthes trifoliata
Bog Bean
Stock
Sold out
Description A fast growing plant with lovely bright green foliage. Bog bean is often the first flowering plant on the pond producing white, star shaped flowers tipped with pink.
Mimulus cardinalis
Scarlet Monkey Flower
Stock
Sold out
Description A clump forming perennial, bearing 2-lipped red flowers throughout the summer months.
Mimulus ringens
Lavender Musk
Stock
Sold out
Description Also known as Monkey Flower, this perennial has tall, delicate stems with long narrow leaves and produces tubular lilac flowers in late summer.
Myosotis palustris
Water forget-me-not
Stock
In stock, collection only
Description Water forget-me-not
Myosotis scorpioides 'Snowflake'
White Water Forget Me Not
Stock
Sold out
Description White flowers.
Pontederia cordata lanceolata
Giant Pickerel Weed
Stock
Sold out
Description A larger variety of the standard Pontederia cordata. This plant produces much taller blue-lilac flowers over 1 metre in height.
Pontederia cordata
Pickerel Weed
Stock
Sold out
Description A favourite of ours, this marginal perennial is perfect for giving some late summer colour to the pond, producing tall erect heart shaped leaves with dense blue-lilac flower spikes.
Sagittaria sagittifolia
Arrowhead
Stock
Sold out
Description With distinct arrowhead shaped leaves, this perennial is another favourite. Both native and great for pollinators, this is an excellent plant choice. Tall stems produce large white flowers with dark purple centres.
Scirpus lacustris tab. Albescens
Striped Bulrush
Stock
Sold out
Description Tall cylindrical hollow foliage with green and white vertical variegations.
Sparganium erectum
Branched Bur-Reed
Stock
Sold out
Description Sparganium erectum are a vigorous growing British native marginal. They are referred to as the branched bur reed and produce scented white flowers turning to spiny looking fruit balls.
Typha angustifolia
Lesser Bulrush
Stock
Sold out
Description An invasive perennial with long linear leaves and cylindrical dark brown flower spikes. Note, this is only suitable for large ponds and lakes as it can be invasive and may puncture pond liners.
Typha gracilis
Medium Bulrush
Stock
Sold out
Description Also known as Medium Reedmace, this is a smaller Typha, with light brown flower spikes. Suited for medium to large ponds as it will spread vigorously if not carefully contained.
Typha latifolia variegata
Variegated Bulrush
Stock
Sold out
Description Also known as Variegated Reedmace, this large Typha has attractive long green and creamy-white variegated leaves and brown flower spikes. Though slightly slower growing that Typha, this is only suitable for large ponds and lakes as it can be invasive and may puncture pond liners.
Typha laxmannii
Graceful Cattail
Stock
Sold out
Description A graceful slender typha for medium to large ponds. Typha laxmannii is less invasive than other typhas but should still be planted in containers.
Veronica beccabunga
Brooklime
Stock
In stock, collection only
Description A common plant found in and around the pond. It often persists throughout winter and provides a great habitat for newts and tadpoles.