Hippuris vulgaris - Cat's Tail

Regular price £5.95

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  • Approximate height: 20cm (8 inches)
  • Recommended water depth over crown of plant: 0 - 30cm (0 - 12 inches)
  • Flower: None
  • Supplied in the solid 9cm pot we grow them in - for best results we recommend potting on using a 1 litre pot

This unusual-looking plant is very adaptable when it comes to water levels; it can be grown as a marginal plant around the edges of the pond with its foliage right out of the water, or it can be grown fully submerged in the pond as an oxygenator, or a mix of the two (partly submerged). It produces spires of dark-green foliage looking like miniature Christmas trees when growing above the water, while the underwater foliage is a lighter green with an attractive soft fluffy appearance. In strong sunlight the stems above water will often turn a pleasing red colour. 

It is more commonly known as 'Marestail' or 'Mare's Tail' , but we have found that when we use this name, people assume it is related to the garden weeds known as horsetails or mare's tails, and it is no relation to these at all. 

If designing a planting scheme, we recommend approximately 1 Hippuris vulgaris plant per square foot of water surface or per linear foot of pond edge. Read more here on how to pot and care for your plant.