What is a marginal pond plant?  The best answer is a plant that naturally grow and adapt to shallow waters. Marginal plants are true aquatics that will thrive where the water level meets the land.   In the natural world, this is exactly what happens.   As a grower and collector of plants from all corners of the world, I have discovered that all Marginal plants are very adaptable as each individual species has, through millions of years of evolution, found ways of surviving drought and flooding.   Whether that is by spreading out over the surface of the water and creeping under the water to find their individual most favoured required depth, or by storing essential nutrients in their tubers or rhizomes to replenish themselves when nutrients are low, or just self seeding in times of drought.  Each individual has their own unique means of survival, and that’s all down to evolution!

If you don’t have a natural clay-bottomed pond, lake or stream, and have a fibre glass or lined pond, the rules for planting up are slightly changed.   Each species or hybrid variety will need help with positioning so as to reach their all important required depth.  This is crucial to avoid exposure to drought or flooding.  So, whatever you are planting, you must always be strict in maintaining that correct planting depth.  This unfortunately, seems to be a forgotten, but essential element which is commonly overlooked in many areas of the aquatic industry.   However, natural planting is very different from planting in fibreglass and lined ponds.   All marginal pond plants have required depths that must be calculated from the top of the planting basket.   Plants growing in aquatic baskets or planting bags will have no means of naturally being able to adapt to the correct water depth so this must be done for them.   This is very important when constructing a pond.   I always recommend that whilst your pond is in construction, you incorporate a few differently levelled planting shelves to house your plants on, and the more that can be put in, the better.   I recommend 15cm, and or 20cm, and or 25cm, and even 30 cm levels to be ideal, and your plants will thrive.   Unfortunately, this will not be so straightforward and easy with fibreglass ponds.  Sometimes I wonder perhaps if the manufacturers of these type of ponds, ever take into consideration the needs and musts of the plants that will be going into them.   Marginal planting can be a joy though, and I recommend out of all the planting products on the market today, planting bags are the best as they are very adaptable when it comes to water depth.

I would also like to point out the importance of feeding Marginal plants.  On the bottom of natural ponds, you will often find a very rich, foul smelling back sludge which is often made up of decaying plant life, waterfowl and fish excrement.   However disgusting this sounds, this thick sludge is extremely high in nutrients and is crucially beneficial to plant growth.   This sludge fortunately, can also be achieved in fibreglass and lined ponds if it is left alone for a few years.   But, in new ponds or newly cleaned out ponds, these nutrients don’t exist.   Customers often ask me ‘if they were to feed their plants, would the nutrients in the water start to encourage blanket weed’.   Well, the simple answer is, no!  If you neglect to feed the plants you have planted out in your new pond, they will simply not grow and will quickly take on a yellow leafed appearance as they are starved out of those vitally needed nutrients, thus leaving algae and blanket weed to thrive, killing your plants along the way.   Plants that do get the nutrients in the food provided, will thrive and grow strong and will quickly use up any nutrients in the water that may have been left over in the water for algae and blanket weed to take hold on. Good growth on your plants will provide good water surface cover and shade thus  cutting back on the sunlight which it turn will provide little room for algae and blanket weed and less shade also means a healthier pond bottom environment for the production of that all important, nutrient rich, sludge.  Healthy ponds produce healthy plants and healthy plants produce happy gardeners, FACT!

Questions I frequently get asked every year by customers visiting our nursery is “What is that noise,” or “What sort of birds are making that noise,” and to that I simply reply “oh, those are our Marsh Frogs”. During the breeding season, the Males become very loud and vocal and will happily carry on croaking and chuckling all day and night with the slightest of vibrations setting them off. Our nursery is situated close to Gatwick airport so each time a plane flies over, hundreds of frogs who happen to be taking a 5 minute rest, restart their vocal chat. They do this by inflating vocal membrane sacs which are on located on the side of their heads like balloons. If you have ever been to a Greek island and are familiar with, and like the constant noise of Cicadas, then you may enjoy the constant sound of Marsh frogs

Latin name Rana Ridibunda, Marsh frogs are the largest European frog and can grow to a length of 100-120 mm. They were first introduced in Walland Marsh in 1935 and have been incredibly successful, having very few predators. They can live up to 11 years and it is still not known yet, quite what impact they will have on our own native wildlife here in the UK. Taking into consideration that they breed over and over again from May until July, laying 200 or 300 eggs at a time, and up to 16000 eggs in one season, it comes as no surprise that they have colonized the South of England already and at an alarming rate. The problem is, that part of their diet is Our Own Native Frogs!  It’s already starting to prove in some areas to be one of Mans big introductory mistakes, much the same as introducing the grey Squirrel was, so it’s not surprising that it is now illegal, under the Wildlife and countryside act of 1981, to breed them in captivity and or release them.

They prefer large expanses of brackish water, and are very adaptable breeding happily in almost any size garden pond. Marsh Frog tadpoles can grow 3-4 times the size of our Native frogs, over-wintering and hibernating along with the adults at the bottom of ponds. Metamorphous can take up to 2 years, with the frog let’s emerging 1-1.25cm in length. Unlike our Native frogs that leave the water after spawning, Marsh frogs constantly live in and around water, sunbathing on grassy banks for hours at a time. It’s quite an amazing site to hear and see dozens of frogs leaping off the grassy banks and plopping into the water as you approach them, whilst out walking on a hot summer’s day.

Love them or hate them! Personally I love them; Marsh frogs are here to stay!

There are about 50 wild species of Water Lilies that grow naturally and come from all corners of the world, from the northern hemisphere to the tropics.  It’s those species that have given birth to a spectrum of coloured Water Lily hybrids that are readily available to purchase today.  This is all thanks to pioneers such as Joseph Bory Latour Marliac, who in the early 19^th century, hybridised over 70 varieties of hybrid Water Lilies.  For over the last 100 years and even up to this present day, more collectors have dabbled in cross pollenisation, but the vast majority of this hybridizing has overall been more successfully achieved in the more tropical climates such as, the USA and China.

Tropical Water Lilies

There are now thousands of different types of tropical Water Lily hybrids that have been cultivated in hotter climates, and they all come in different sizes.  Some are Day bloomers and prefer to bloom whilst basking in the hot sunshine, whilst others, are Night bloomers and prefer to bloom under the cover of darkness.  The Night bloomers are naturally scented as an evolutionary creation to attract any passing night flying insects and moths.  Tropical Water Lilies are available in a huge variety of colours including a rather large and impressive range of blues and purple’s.  Unfortunately though at present, the hardy varieties are not available in the blues and purples, but there have been a few breakthroughs recently, so this could be on the horizon in the future.   Being an avid collector of all varieties of Water Lilies can be rather challenging at times.   My nursery (Lilies Water Gardens) is situated in the UK which regrettably, cannot guarantee a good run of sunshine, even throughout the summer months.  However, if I were living in a much warmer tropical climate, I’m sure I would by now, have an even more impressive collection.

Hardy Water Lilies

The hardier varieties of Water Lilies are available in a spectacular range of colours, from reds, to pinks, yellows, whites, peaches, creams and all of the shades in between.  I’m sure if it were possible to list all the named varieties from all over the world, we would be talking about well over 1000 cultivars.  As with the tropical varieties of Water Lily, the hardy varieties also come in all sizes.  Some, like Pygmaea  Helvola, have minute blooms and leaves the size of a penny that sit on the water surface while others, have scented blooms that can measure up to 20cm across with 40cm wide leaves that can stand up to 30cm out of the water.

Our Collection

Here at Lilies Water Gardens, we have a very large and impressive collection of Water Lilies with over 125 cultivars, making us very proud to be able to say, that we have to date, the biggest collection in the UK.  All of these varieties are available to buy on line or from our retail nursery.

We always take great care when choosing our plants and I only stock what I would call, ‘Garden Worthy Plants’.  This in essence means,  that all the varieties I have carefully collected over the years, have been carefully chosen specifically for, their colour, scent, size, flowering season and general overall performance.  We also stock smaller varieties of Lilies that are ideal for growing in patio tubs and the larger growing varieties for large clay-bottomed ponds and lakes.

Come visit our Nursery on line or in person and be amazed by the variety of Water Lilies and other aquatic plants and flowers we have to offer throughout the season.  We are sure to find the one that’s just right for you.

A few years ago a fellow nurseryman gave me a unusual plant from Africa also known as River star and Otter bush. Gomphostigma Virgatun is certainly a unusual Marginal plant as it has evergreen silvery grey leaves and branches and grows quite happily in water. Originating from South Africa, river star will grow to a amazing height of 2.5 meters, its natural habitat as its name suggest is river margins where it will grow amongst boulders and in silt beds.

As a Marginal it will grow almost anywhere that is wet, so can be used in ponds, streams, rivers, bog-gardens and moist borders.  Not only does it have attractive silvery leaves but also produces a abundance of white scented flowers in the summer, In its native habitat it will flower in December and January. River star is also used traditionally to fight off extreme tiredness and also the trigs are used to make brooms much the same way as we make witches brooms from Hazel. Plant in full sun and cut back hard after winter encouraging compact bushy plants and therefore more flowers.

So if you fancy something quite unique and different to anything else you have tried before the Gomphostigma Virgatum may be the plant for you. Highly recommendable!

On our nursery and available to buy online through our website, we have a range of aquatic baskets, and aquatic soils for use in the baskets.  The problem is, knowing how much to use.  To help you with those all important decisions, I have done you a guide, so you can purchase the right quantity for your specific needs.

Aquatic Pond Soil and Lelite Water lily Aquatic Soil (10 litre bags)

16 cm and hexagonal baskets (1 bag) = any 4 baskets

Aquatic shallow oxygenating baskets (1 bag) = 4 baskets

23 cm round and 24cm square baskets (1 bag) = 2 basket

29 cm square baskets and contour baskets (1 bag ) = 1 basket

Extra large round 43 cm and Extra large square 40 cm (2 bags) = 1 basket

Supadensa and Plant Substrate (10 litre bags)

Both of these products may seem more expensive to buy in the 10ltr bags, but you actually do get twice as much for your money purchasing it this way as it is equivalent to 20ltrs and goes twice as far. So 1 bag will fill twice as many baskets as the figures set out above.

The  Lotus,  also known as the Chinese or  Sacred Lotus, has its origins all over  the world and most of the natural growing species, originate from the USA, South America, Australia, southern Canada, and all over the Far East.  There are well over 200 Lotus cultivars that are available today and, in a rainbow of colours.  It’s not surprising that the Lotus is deemed a sacred flower as its seeds, fruit, flowers and leaves are all edible and has been used as a staple diet throughout the ages and many ancient recipes still exist and are used today.  More importantly though, is its value as a medicinal plant.  The Lotus being very versatile is renowned for its properties to treat dozens of ailments and has always been popular throughout the ages.   From floral arrangements, to perfume or simply as a beautiful water garden plant, the Lotus seems to capture the very essence of all our dreams.

Just like water lilies, the Lotus cultivars are tropical and hardy, hardy meaning they can withstand very cold, freezing temperatures as long as their growing rhizomes don’t become frozen. It’s not so much the cold but rather the length of our winters and more important our lack of sunlight in the UK that makes them unsuitable to grow outside. I therefore only recommend this plant if you have a heated conservatory that gets plenty of direct sunlight.

In the right conditions, you can enjoy the Lotus in full bloom throughout the summer, and our round patio containers are ideal for making the best exhibit of this stunning, exotic and fragrant flower which will look great in any conservatory. The Lotus also has another arrow to its already popular bow and that is, that it can be grown with very little maintenance as long as you follow a few simple rules.

Rules for Growing the Lotus

1.)       Always grow in a round container

2.)     Use clay based loam or aquatic soil

3.)    Feed frequently with aquatic plant food

4.)    Place your container in full sunlight

5.)    Re-pot every March

6.)    Cut back old yellow and dried up dying leaves in the autumn

How to plant

The Lotus’s are dispatched as tubers in a dormant state, as they are too delicate to transport when they are half or fully grown, and if the growing tips break off, they can take a long time to recover and will often die.  I recommend you fill your container half full with soil and top up with water.  When you receive your tuber, I also recommend that you float it for a week or two in water until dormancy is broken and green leaves appear. Once this has happened, the tuber is now ready for you to plant.  Always plant the tuber horizontally with just the new, strong growth sticking up out of the soil, and always plant it up with the growing tip facing inwards towards the centre of your container.  Do not feed at this stage!  Only when the new growth has reached about 6-8 inches in height, is when you can add the first feed.  Here at Lilies Water Gardens, we sell a range of aquatic plant foods in tablet form to suit all of your plants needs and are also perfect to optimize the full stunning effect of your Lotus flowers. Feed your lotus plant every 6 weeks throughout the growing season, but always remember, no more feeds after July.

Containers with water in, look great in a multitude of situations and can bring your garden to life with much the same impact as planted patio pots and hanging baskets.  Imagine yourself on a hot summers day, chilling out with a glass of wine, sitting next to your container water-garden with its miniature water lilies floating around on the surface, supporting its very own small ecosystem. Not only is it visually attractive, but with the plants you have chosen and with the beauty of their reflections, you will surely feel pride and pleasure in its depths. You will be amazed at the visitors that decide to make it their home too, such as, damselflies, dragonflies, water-boatmen, pond skaters, pond beetles, and frogs to name but a few!  Your container and the pond life it will attract, will do best in full sun or partial shade but, can also be situated in many other locations around the garden such as, a border amongst other plants, on a lawn or patio, in your conservatory or, if you do not have a garden, you can even have one on your flat balcony. You may think that water gardening, if you live in a flat, would be somewhat impossible but, this is however, becoming a popular hobby and can be addictive.  I have many customers that are avid fans of container water gardening who have filled their balconies and gardens with up to a dozen containers in different locations.  You can even add a new dimension with the sound of trickling water, as there are hundreds of simple water features and lots of ways to adjoin them to maximise that ultimate container garden experience.

Planting

As containers are generally small, the best and most effective and easiest way to plant your containers up is, to put the plants directly into the soil. Rather than using aquatic baskets, and using bricks for water depths, simply add aquatic soil straight into your container as this will give you that natural looking overall effect. If you half fill your container with soil first and then allow six inches of water to float on top of that, you won’t go far wrong.  Don’t forget to add plant food.  I would recommend pushing 6 osmocote tablets down 1 or 2 inches into the soil.  They are harmless to wildlife, and should be repeated halfway through the growing season, but do not feed your plants later than July.  For healthy, clean and clear water you will need a balance of plants.  A couple of marginal plants, some with floating leaves and a uninvasive oxygenating plant, will give you good results.  If you are planting up multiple containers, try to use lots of different plants as this will give variety and balance to the overall effect. Below are a few plants I personally recommend, but there are masses of others to choose from. If you log on to our website and click on the advanced search tab on the top navigation bar and then tick the box (suitable for patio water gardening), you will easily find the plants of your choice.  Our containers are also available to buy online.

Recommended Container Plants :-

Pygmaea Helvola

Pygmaea Laydeckerii Lilacea

Typha Minima

Hydrocharis Morsus Ranae

Iris Laevigata Variegata

Elodea Canadensis

Cerotophyllum Submersum

Unfortunately duckweed seems to be the curse of every garden pond.  Just when your pond is looking at its best, and your plants are starting their spring growth, along it will come invading our beautiful ponds with millions of tiny green floating leaves which spread out over the water’s surface at a rate of knots.  This pest plant is so invasive that one individual plant that may have by chance arrived on the back of a frog or on the foot of a visiting bird, can divide, self-seed and ultimately, cover your entire pond within weeks.

Not surprisingly, the most common question I frequently get asked is “How do I get rid of it?” You may have tried time and again and think it’s an impossible task but, I have seen incredible results of duckweed being brought under control and even completely illiminated in some of the worst examples, and I shall explain how in the following paragraphs.  Prevention has always been by far the best cure as with a lot of things so, every day I spend 20 minutes inspecting every container or fiberglass pond for any signs of duckweed, and  if I find just one speck, I remove it straight away.  Using this method has ensured that Lilies Water Gardens is always 100% duckweed free and carrying out the same measures on your own pond, will ensure that yours it too, as a 5 minute daily inspection is all it takes to keep your pond duckweed-free.

For badly contaminated ponds though, unfortunately, you will have to take the time consuming and unenviable task of thoroughly cleaning out the pond.  I recently carried out this task on my mother’s pond which had a bad infestation of duckweed.  Unfortunately, we had to discard all the plants and baskets, and give the pond several water changes before I was satisfied it was duckweed free.  It’s very important to jet wash  any stone ornaments to wash out any hidden duckweed that may have accumulated in any folds or crevices in the pond liner, especially where  the folds overlap onto land. You will also need to do a fine inspection of any soil areas outside the pond where the water may have overflowed or splashed over onto the soil.  It’s important to be very vigilant with inspections over the next few days.

However, if the task ahead it just too much to take on, our nursery now sells several eco and pond life friendly  products for controlling duckweed, and all can be used to kill off any new outbreaks  or on any badly contaminated ponds without the need for back breaking work.  These duckweed treatments work well but should really be used as a preventative measure rather than a cure as again, prevention is always by far the best remedy.

This is why here at Lilies Water Gardens we are proud to be owners of a duckweed free nursery.

Also known as American Water Willow, this very attractive, rare and unusual plant grows wild on the edge of large-ponds, lakes, streams and rivers. Growing to a height of 45 cm, Justicia Americana will continue to flower throughout the summer for up to 10 weeks.

I first discovered this plant about 4 years ago.  It’s probably the most versatile plant I have ever come across, and it will thrive and look great growing in anything from a patio water feature, to the edge of large rivers, lakes and streams. Justicia can also grow in very shallow waters of only 2 cms down to a depth of 30 cm. Not only is this plant exceptionally attractive with its masses of stunning orchid like white, lavender and violet flowers, but is extremely useful as it will absorb nitrates, ammonia, and oxygenate your water.  Justicia is a perfect haven for wildlife too, as its compact growing habit will attract birds, and provide a suitable spawning ground for frogs, newts, greater crested newts, toads and fish. 100% frost hardy, Justicia Americana can survive weeks of being frozen solid in ice.

So, if you are looking for the perfect Marginal plant, look no further as Justicia Americana holds its head up high above all other marginal’s, and for this reason, I would give this plant a score of 100%.

With all this hot weather, and your pond turning greener by the minute, it’s the ideal time to add some of our Floating Plant Islands. For those that have inherited a pond without marginal shelving or a surrounding bog-garden, these islands are ideal. The effect of our planting islands is not only visually enhancing, but, will also give safe and healthy cover for fish, amphibians and other wildlife.  For the best effect, we recommend you use trailing and creeping plants that will spread out over the islands and the water. The plants will also benefit your pond by taking nitrates out of the water, adding oxygen, cutting down on sunlight and so reducing algae and green water. Even better still, this can all be achieved in a matter of weeks. Our islands come in a square or round format and sit about 2 cm above the water when planted. They also come in two different sizes  of either 25cm or 35cm.  The larger islands will house two or three plants giving extra colour and variation.

For a visual effect and to take nitrates out of the water we recommend the following plants­ -

Mazus Reptans Blue

Mazus Reptans Alba

Potentilla Palustris

Anagalis Tenella

Lobelia Chinensis

Lysimachia Nummularia

Lysimachia Nummularia Aurea

Mimulus Orange Glow

Phyla Lanceolata

Trifolium Repens Purpurea

Trifolium Repens Dragons Blood

For a visual effect and to oxygenate the water we recommend the following plants -

Veronica Becabunga

Hydrocotyl Vulgaris

Hydrocotyl Vulgaris Chrytal Confetti

Ludwigia Palustris

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Planting

Once opened, simply place your island over a old flower pot, so the liner can unfold and hang down to its full capacity. Half fill with multi-purpose compost, add a couple of osmocote tablets, then take your chosen plants out of their pots and replant them into your islands. Finish by filling any gaps with more soil up to the level of the top of the island.