Water Fringe/ Floating Heart/ VillarsiaDescription
Very useful for providing leaf cover, but produces a proliferation of underwater stems and can be quite tangley and invasive. Should be introduced with circumspection into larger ponds and lakes, especially if they are in full sun. Supplied bare-rooted.
Top tip: Will tolerate slow moving water, and can grow in dappled shade but prefers good depth of water and space to expand.
Flowers: July/September
Height of plant: Grows flat on the surface with prolific small yellow flowers held 10cms above.
Propagation: Can easily be divided as it grows roots at every leaf junction along each stem.
How to plant: Plant into a 5lt planting basket using heavy garden loam or Westland Aquatic Soil and place on a shelf in the pond. Fill the planting basket to the brim with well compacted soil, then make a finger hole and drop the roots into it. add more soil and push down to secure. For aesthetic purposes, the soil can then be top dressed with no more than 1cm of pea gravel.
Recommended planting depth: To start with position on the shelf so that the soil in the basket is 0-20cm below the water surface. Once the plant has become established, the basket can be dropped into deeper water up to 1m. The planting depth is always measured from soil surface to water surface, not including any gravel top dressing. Raise the basket on slabs or bricks to achieve the recommended planting depth.
