Description of Alisma parviflorum (American Plantain)

Alisma parviflorum is often sold as American plantain in pond plant lists. It’s a water plantain type grown for its airy flower stems and upright leaves, and it suits shallow margins where you want a lighter look than big-leaved marginals.

Appearance

It forms a basal clump of narrow to oval leaves. In summer it produces branched stems carrying lots of small pale flowers. The overall effect is open and see-through. Height is often 50 to 100cm, depending on water depth and food.

Care Guide

It performs best with wet roots and plenty of light.

• Sun: Full sun to light shade.
• Soil: Mud or aquatic compost in a basket.
• Water: Shallow margins or saturated bog soil.
• Cut back: Remove old stems in autumn or spring.
• Seeding: It may self-seed into open mud.

For a natural look, plant it in small groups so the flower stems read as a soft haze.

Suitability for Bog Garden

This suits bog gardens with a wet shelf or pond edge. It’s also useful in liner bogs where the base stays wet but not deeply submerged.

Avoid deep water, where it can become weak and flop.

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