Description of Oenanthe javanica 'Flamingo'

Oenanthe javanica 'Flamingo' is variegated water celery with pink-tinted new growth. It’s a bright foliage plant for the pond edge and bog gardens, and it adds colour even when nothing is flowering.

Appearance

It makes creeping stems with divided leaves. New leaves often flush pink, then settle into green and cream variegation. It stays fairly low, often 20 to 40cm tall, but it can spread widely if happy.

Care Guide

It grows fast. Containment makes life easier.

• Sun: Sun to part shade. More light usually gives better pink flush.
• Soil: Wet soil or aquatic compost in a basket.
• Water: Boggy ground to shallow water.
• Control: Keep it in a basket or solid pot and trim runners.
• Trim: Cut back hard in summer if it looks tired, it usually regrows quickly.

If it reverts to plain green shoots, remove those stems so the variegation stays strong.

Suitability for Bog Garden

This is great for adding a bright patch at the front of a bog garden, or for softening the rim of a pond shelf. It also looks good trailing over rocks and edges.

Because it can spread, keep it away from small, slow growers. A container sunk into the bog lets you enjoy it without constant pulling.

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