- Approximate leaf spread: 60cm (24 inches)
- Recommended water depth over crown of plant: 15 - 90cm (6 -36 inches)
- Flowering time: June - September
- Flower colour: Pink
- Supplied in the solid 9cm pot we grow them in - for best results we recommend potting on using a 1 - 2 litre pot
This unusual British native has glossy strap-like leaves ranging from mid green to dark green, and produces distinctive pink, fluffy flowers that rise above the water surface. A slow-growing and adaptable plant, it will grow in a wide range of conditions: in full sun, part shade, or moderate shade; at the pond edge with its foliage right out of the water; in shallow water with the tops of stems exposed; or in deeper water with its leaves floating on the surface.
Its preferred position, however, is in deeper water - around 45cm (18 inches) above the crown - in a sunny spot. This is the only situation in which it will produce its flowers. Found in the wild in ponds, lakes, and canals across Britain, it is a useful plant for surface cover in native pond settings, and particularly well suited to native barrel ponds, as it tolerates deeper water than many other native species. It was previously known as Polygonum amphibium, and is on the RHS’ Plants for Pollinators list.
We grow these plants in shallow water at the nursery (around 4 inches over the crown). If planting into much deeper water, we recommend lowering the plant in stages, by around 30cm (1 foot) at a time, allowing it to grow back up to the surface between each stage. This can be done by standing the pot on house bricks or pots filled with gravel.
If designing a planting scheme, we recommend approximately 1 Persicaria amphibia plant per square foot of ground, or per linear foot of pond edge. Read more here on how to pot and care for your plant.