Bog Plants

Primula florindae is giant cowslip, a candelabra primrose for damp shade and bog edges. It’s loved for its tiers of nodding yellow flowers in early...

Hippuris vulgaris is mare’s tail, a native aquatic that grows in shallow water and wet mud. It forms upright stems with neat whorls of leaves. Appe...

Cyperus 'King Tut' is an umbrella sedge grown for tall stems topped with big green umbrella heads. It’s often sold as a patio marginal for tubs and...

Eleocharis acicularis is dwarf hairgrass, a fine-textured marginal often used to soften pond edges. It forms low grassy mats in shallow water and w...

Lobelia cardinalis is cardinal flower, known for tall spikes of scarlet blooms in late summer. It likes wet ground and brings colour when many bog ...

Myosotis scorpioides is water forget-me-not, a classic pond-margin plant with blue flowers. It’s simple, reliable, and great for softening edges wh...

Lysimachia nummularia is creeping jenny, a fast ground cover for wet soil and pond edges. It’s perfect for trailing over rocks and basket rims, and...

Mentha aquatica is water mint, a UK native that thrives in wet ground. It smells like mint when you brush it, and it produces round clusters of lil...

Matteuccia struthiopteris is shuttlecock fern, also called ostrich fern. It likes damp shade and it gives you a big, fresh look without needing flo...

Lythrum salicaria is purple loosestrife, a wetland perennial with tall spikes of magenta-purple flowers in summer. It’s one of the best plants for ...

Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea' is golden creeping jenny, a fast ground cover for damp soil and pond edges. It’s often used to trail over rocks and b...

Juncus effusus var. spiralis is corkscrew rush, grown for its twisted stems. It’s a strong marginal for pond shelves and bog gardens, and it gives ...

Filipendula ulmaria is meadowsweet, a native plant for damp ground with creamy flower heads and a strong scent in warm weather. It’s a solid pick f...

Caltha palustris is marsh marigold, a native marginal that starts the season with bright yellow spring flowers. It’s one of the best early plants f...

Menyanthes trifoliata is bogbean, a native plant for pools, ditches, and very wet bog ground. It’s a brilliant choice for pond margins because it f...

Iris pseudacorus 'Variegata' is a variegated yellow flag iris with cream-striped leaves. It gives strong foliage colour from spring onwards and han...

Achillea ptarmica 'The Pearl' is a reliable, long-flowering yarrow with small, double white flowerheads. Many gardeners know it as sneezewort 'The ...

Lobelia siphilitica is a moisture-loving perennial with tall spikes of blue flowers. You will also see it listed as blue lobelia or blue cardinal f...

Hosta 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd' is a big-leaved hosta with deep, cupped foliage that holds rainwater. You may see it called plantain lily 'Abiqua Dri...

Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon' is a low, spreading marginal that brings colour even when nothing else is flowering. You might hear it called chamel...

Juncus inflexus is a UK native rush with upright, blue-green stems. It is usually sold as hard rush or blue-green rush. It is one of those plants t...

Lythrum salicaria 'Rosey Gem' is a compact purple loosestrife for pond edges and wet borders. It brings a long run of pink flowers in summer and it...

Pontederia cordata 'Pink' is a pickerel weed with pink flower spikes in mid to late summer. It’s a proper pond-margin plant and it gives you flower...

Isolepis cernua is the plant most people know as fibre optic plant. You may still see the old name Scirpus cernuus on labels. It’s a small marginal...