Mail Order Catalogue 2008

Water Plants and Marginals     A-E     F-O     P-Z 

HOUTTUYNIA. Marginal.
-* cordata 'Flore Pleno'. Don't be fooled by the pretty green scented leaves and double white, green centred flowers, this is a thug par excellance!  We inadvertently let it loose in a bog garden and even "Round-Up" hasn't killed it!  We only include it because we actually get asked for it, and if you have a large lake or wet area, it can be a very pretty coverer of ground.  1 ½ ft. PD 4 ins.  E
-   - 'Chameleon'.  A truly astonishing plant as it's leaves range through green, yellow, pink, and brilliant red: especially in sun where it goes even redder. White flowers similar in habit to it's relative above, although maybe not quite so invasive: but we haven't ourselves let it out yet!  1 ½ ft. PD 4 ins.  E

HYDROCHARIS. (Frogbit).
-   morsus-ranae.  Resembles a tiny water lily with white three petalled flowers in Summer. Disappears in Winter when it's buds drop to the bottom of the pool. A very dainty floater.  C

IRIS. Please see Iris Supplement.

JUNCUS. Marginal.
-   effusus spiralis.  (Corkscrew Rush)  A strange plant where the narrow dark green rushes curl round like a Corkscrew. Will grow in water but we find it better in damp soil, it seems to loose it's "perm" when under water!.  2 ft.  PD. 4 ins  E

LYSICHITON  Marginal.
-   americanum.  Most imposing plants for a boggy area or stream side,  but their eventual size makes them unsuitable for the small garden. Slow to establish, once they have settled in they send up huge buttercup yellow arum spathes in Spring that are followed by four foot long, spinach like leaves that last all Summer.  Grows best in deep, wet, rich soil.  G
-   camtschatensis.  Similar in habit but much smaller than the above, with the leaves rarely exceeding two and a half feet, and shiny milk white spathes. Plant as above.  G

MENTHA. Marginal.
-  * aquatica.  (Water Mint) One of the commonest marginals, it is a poor plant compared to it's culinary cousins.  The foliage has a pungent smell but the lilac flowers are insignificant and it is very rampant.
Best for a large, "wild" garden.  3ft. PD 3 ins.  D

MENYANTHES. Marginal.
-   trifoliata.  (Bog Bean) A useful plant for bridging the gap between water and bank.  Long branching fleshy stems that float on the water are covered with shiny lobed leaves and upright clusters of white fringed flowers in May.  1 ft.  PD 3 ins.  E

MYOSOTIS. (Water Forget- Me- Not) Marginal.  These pretty flowers will flourish in damp soil or water. Useful for underplanting Iris or other taller plants.
-   scorpioides.  The native, with it's lovely sky blue flowers that continue all Summer, spreading but easy to control. 1 ft. PD 3 ins.  C
-   - 'Mermaid'.  A larger version of the type with larger flowers. More compact in growth and not so spreading. Makes better specimen plants. 1 ft. PD 3 ins.  D

NYMPHOIDES
-   peltata. (Water Fringe). Spreading native, small round leaves and yellow flowers. May need control.   E

ORONTIUM.
-   aquaticum.  (Golden Club). Forms a large clump of waxy blue-green leaves with masses of white, yellow tipped "candles" which are held above the water. Needs deep soil and dislikes being disturbed. PD 1 ½ ft.  E