Deep Water Aquatics: Pond Plant Group
Deep-water
Aquatics-
Other Names ( Deep Marginals, Surface Plants)
Roots submerged, leaves on the surface and flowers on or above the
surface.
Only a few varieties are available, but they are very useful where Water
Lilies are absent or are not yet established. Their leaves help to keep water
clear and the fish cool in the summer. The recommended planting depth is
1 ft. or more depending on the variety. Shallower planting may result in
leaves held above the surfaceand an inferior floral display. Not as dramatic
as Water Lilies, but there are Deep-water aquatics for partial shade, fountain
disturbed surfaces and very deep water.
Aponogeton-
Water Hawthorn
Aponogeton
distachyos
is one of the best Deep-water aquatics - it is an easy plant to grow, with
leaves which are often evergreen and flowers which appear for months on end.
These curious flowers are borne on spikes which float on the surface - each
flower has waxy white petals and black anthers. The fragrance is strong,
variously described as 'vanilla'and 'Hawthorn-like'. The oblong leaves are
often blotched with brown and the eventual spread is about 2 ft. Unlike a
Water Lily, it will flourish in partial shade and moving water, but make
sure that it is deep enough for the tubers to be below the ice in
winter.
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Planting Depth: 1-2 ft.
_____________________________
Height Above Surface: Floating
_____________________________
Flowering Period: -
_____________________________
Propagation: Divide clumps in late spring or sow fresh seeds under
glass
Nymphoides-
Water Fringe
There
is just one basic species -
Nyphoides
peltata
Commonly
known as Water Fringe or Floating Heart. In the catalogues you may find it
listed as
Villarsia
bennettii
or
Limnanthemum
nymphoides.
The minature Water Lily-like leaves measure about 2 in. across and are often
crinkly-edged and blotched or spotted with brown. The 1-1/2 in. yellow flower
is more like a Buttercup than a Water Lily, and the petal edges are fringed.
The blooms are borne in small clusters. A useful plant for giving rapid surface
cover before Water Lilies have become established, but it can get out of
hand.
 _____________________________
Planting Depth: 1-2 ft.
_____________________________
Height Above Surface: 2-3 in.
_____________________________
Flowering Period: July - September
_____________________________
Propagation: Divide clumps in late spring or summer
Nuphar-
Pond Lily
This
relative of the Water Lily is not as attractive as its illustrious cousin
- the flowers are small, rather plain and are carried on thick stems above
the water. Thereare, however, a few distinct advantages - light shade is
no problem and neither is moving water. For anaverage sized pond choose
Nuphur
minima
(N.
pumila).
The yellow flowers are about 1 in. across and the underwater foliage is
translucent. Unfortunately the types on offer are often the giants such as
N.
lutea
(Brandy Bottle) with its 3 in. bottle-shaped yellow flowers which smell strongly
of alcohol. Like.
N.
japonica
and
N.
advena
it is a plant for a large pond or lake.
 _____________________________
Planting Depth: 1-2 ft. (small species) 2-6 ft.(large species)
_____________________________
Height Above Surface: 3 in.
_____________________________
Flowering Period: June - September
_____________________________
Propagation: Divide clumps in late spring or summer
Orontium-
Golden Club
Orontium
aquaticum
is a trouble-free and non-invasive plant with only one fussy requirement-
it does need a lot of soil, so plant it in a deep Water Lily basket. It will
grow in shallow water, but it needs a planting depth of at least 1 ft. if
you want the leaves to float on the water rather than stand erect. This foliage
is attractive - blue-green above and silver below. The most outstanding feature
of this member of the Arum family is the unusual flower-head. This stands
above the water like a pure white pencil with a tip which is coloured gold
by a mass of tiny yellow florets. Highly recommended.
 _____________________________
Planting Depth: 1-1/2 ft.
_____________________________
Height Above Surface: 1 ft.
_____________________________
Flowering Period: April - May
_____________________________
Propagation: Sow fresh seeds in summer
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