Menyanthes trifoliata - Bog Bean

Regular price £5.95

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  • Approximate height: 20cm (8 inches) 
  • Recommended water depth over crown of plant: 2½ - 10cm (1 - 4 inches)
  • Flowering time: April/May - June
  • Flower colour: White
  • Supplied bare root - for best results we recommend potting on using a 3 - 4 litre pot

A British native species which is a useful plant for disguising the pond edge, having long, horizontal, branching stems which float on the water surface. These stems put up soft, green, three-lobed leaves, and in late spring attractive white-fringed flowers with a delicate and unusual appearance. Unlike most pond plants, bog bean will grow in shade, but grow it in sun or partial shade for more flowers. It tends to start forming its flower very early in the season, so if you want to see the flower it is best bought the year before. 

Since Menyanthes plants like to grow horizontally, we only supply them bare root (they tend to 'jump' small mail order pots very quickly). For the same reason, we have recommended a 3 or 4 litre pot for your plant because these will have a wide opening. However, a 2 litre pot would be enough if it has an opening of around 20cm. Plant your bare-root plant with the cut end of the rhizome against the edge of your pot (so that the 'growing' end has the most space) and have the rhizome itself almost, but not quite, covered in soil.

If designing a planting scheme, we recommend approximately 1 Menyanthes trifoliata plant per two square feet of ground or per two linear feet of pond edge. Read more here on how to pot and care for your plant.