- Approximate leaf spread: 30cm (12 inches)
- Recommended water depth over crown of the plant: 5 - 10cm (2 - 4 inches)
- Flowering time: May to July
- Flower colour: White
- Supplied in the solid 9cm pot we grow them in - for best results we recommend potting on using a 1 litre pot
A British native that has become extremely rare in the wild due to habitat disturbance and nutrient pollution. In deep water or during winter, it produces submerged leaves, which are thin, grassy, soft, and a light green colour (see third picture). In shallower water or on exposed mud, it develops more robust, floating, oval, mid-green leaves, often with a reddish tinge when young, along with simple white three-petalled flowers. In the wild, it grows at any depth where light reaches - even under several feet of water - but is easily out-competed by algae or more vigorous plants.
New plants are produced by runners, but these are small and soft, so spreading is rarely a problem. While not particularly showy, there are few native plants suitable for small ponds, and even fewer with floating leaves, making Luronium natans especially useful.
It is sometimes still known by its old name, Alisma natans.
If designing a planting scheme, we recommend approximately 1 Luronium natans plant per square foot of water surface. Read more here on how to pot and care for your plant.