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Flowering Marginal Plants
Marginal plants are those that love shallow water or thrive in boggy ground. They are wonderful for creating a natural edge to your pond and these flowering varieties will attract all sorts of pollinators.
Learn more about choosing and growing water plants in a wildlife pond in our advice section and find even more information in our resources.
Availability and planting | April to August
The best time of year for planting water lilies and other water plants is April to August, while they are in full growth. If you would like to learn more about choosing and growing water plants, have a look at our advice page.

Alisma plantago-aquatica - Water Plantain
€4.75
Water Plantain A native plant that is frequently found growing on the margins of canals, ponds and in other shallow, wet places in Ireland. Also known as devil’s spoons, Alisma plantago-aquatica is a small, rhizomatous perennial plant which forms basal, grey-green rosettes of 1’/30cm leaves. In spring, water plantain bears tall panicles of white...
Aquatic Pot

Aquatic Pot
€1.20
Aquatic Pot Mesh pot for aquatic plants.

Butomus umbellatus - Flowering Rush
€4.75
Flowering Rush A pretty aquatic plant for shallow water or wet pond margins, Butomus umbellatus is a herbaceous, rhizomatous perennial, possibly native to Co Clare, otherwise introduced. The upright, twisted leaves emerge red, turning green, and provide a grassy accent round a pond. From July to August, pretty umbels, ¾”/2cm wide, of pink flower...

Butomus Umbellatus Schneeweisschen - Flowering Rush
€4.75
Flowering Rush Schneeweisschen A very attractive cultivar of the possibly native flowering rush, Butomus umbellatus Schneeweisschen (Snow-White) is a fast-growing, herbaceous, marginal plant of still water with a creeping, rhizomatous habit. The green leaves are narrow and grass-like. In June and July, tall stems carry open umbels of pure white ...
Iris ensata

Iris ensata
€4.75
Japanese clematis Iris, Iris kaempferi Also known as Iris kaempferi, Iris ensata produces varying coloured, clematis type flowers - ranging from dark blue to bright purple flowers in summer. The flowers are often boldly marked with yellow. Iris ensata forms clump of broad-bladed, erect leaves. It prefers moist to boggy soil. As with all iris the...

Iris louisiana Black Gamecock
€6.00
Louisiana Iris Black Gamecock Stunning, giant, deep purple, near black blooms adorn this beautiful Iris. As with all louisiana Iris, ‘Black Gamecock’ is ideal for the pond as it loves plenty of moisture. This Iris is excellent for cut flowers. The tubers are harmful if eaten. Position: Full sun to part shadePlanting depth: Damp soil to 20cm (8’...
Iris pseudacorus - Yellow Flag

Iris pseudacorus - Yellow Flag
€3.50
Yellow Flag Iris Commonly known as the yellow flag Iris, Iris pseudacorus is often seen in boggy areas or growing in shallow water at the edge of a pond. Planted out in boggy ground, this plant colonises rapidly to form large clumps with long, erect strap shaped leaves and bright yellow flowers in summer. As with all Iris, the tubers are harmful...

Iris sibirica - Siberian Flag Iris
€4.00
Siberian Flag Iris Iris sibirica is an attractive, free flowering Iris with long lasting deep blue flowers. Despite been commonly known as the Siberian Flag Iris, it is a native of Europe, not Siberia. Equally at home in moist or dry soils. As with all Iris the tubers are harmful if eaten. Position: Full sun to part shadePlanting depth: Dry to d...

Iris sibirica Butter and Sugar
€4.00
Iris Butter and Sugar A good plant for a reliably moist border, and lovely reflected in a pool, Iris sibirica Butter and Sugar is a shorter and more delicate cultivar than most Siberian irises. It’s a spreading, clump-forming, deciduous, rhizomatous perennial with lots of very slender, upright, grey-green leaves. The large flowers, produced in m...
Iris sibirica Snow Queen

Iris sibirica Snow Queen
€4.75
Siberian Iris Snow Queen A beautiful beardless iris for moist soil, Iris sibirica Snow Queen is a clump-forming, rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial with branching stems and narrow, rather grass-like, grey-green, sword-shaped leaves up to 18”/45cm long. In May and June, beautiful, typical iris flowers in pure white, sometimes flushed purple, with ...

Lobelia cardinalis Queen Victoria
€4.75
Lobelia Queen Victoria Also called cardinal flower, Lobelia cardinalis Queen Victoria is a very striking plant, quite different from little blue bedding lobelias. It’s a clump-forming, often rather short-lived, herbaceous perennial with beautiful, beetroot-red, oblong leaves. In August and September, and into October, brilliant, five-petalled sc...

Lysichiton camtschatcensis - White Skunk Cabbage
€6.00
White Skunk Cabbage White arum-shaped flowers are an excellent pollen source for bees as they are in bloom so early in the year. Large striking dark green leaves follow. When the leaves are damaged it gives off a slightly offensive odour hence it’s common name of Skunk Cabbage. Lysichiton camtschatcensis is harmful if eaten and could be a skin &...
Lythrum salicaria Robin

Lythrum salicaria Robin
€4.00
Pink Loosestrife Robin A cultivar of our native purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria Robin is an upright, medium-sized, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial. It has copious narrow green leaves on erect stems, which are topped in late summer with by spectacular, long-flowering, spikes of bright, magenta-pink flowers. Pink loosestrife Robin is inv...

Mimulus cupreus Red Emperor
€4.75
Mimulus Red Emperor A vividly coloured, marginal pond-plant, Mimulus cupreus Red Emperor is a compact, herbaceous perennial of average vigour. The small, toothed, downy leaves are light green. Beautiful, trumpet-shaped bright scarlet-red flowers are borne June to August, and even into September, and are good for bees. Plant in a mesh basket to...
Mimulus luteus

Mimulus luteus
€4.75
Blood-drop-emlets Also known as monkey musk, Mimulus luteus is an attractive, deciduous, herbaceous perennial, with a spreading, self-sowing habit. The small, ovate leaves are mid-green. Two-lipped, bright yellow flowers with red or purple spots on the petals are borne in late spring and early summer. This little plant is ideal for a difficult,...
Valeriana officinalis - Valerian

Valeriana officinalis - Valerian
€3.00
Valerian, common (Caorthann corraigh) Also known as Wild Valerian, this is a graceful perennial, native wildflower that can be found throughout Ireland, especially alongside rivers and in meadows. Valeriana officinalis can be a tall plant however its height tends to vary depending on soil conditions, and can shoot up to 1.5m high in damp places...

Anagallis tenella - Bog pimpernel
€4.75
Bog pimpernel Commonly known as bog pimpernel, Anagallis tenella forms a dense carpet of tiny evergreen leaves, mixed with numerous rosy pink flowers from late spring to early summer. This spreading, native plant is ideal in a bog garden or very shallow water. Position: Full sunPlanting depth: Grow in the damp margin to level with the water surf...

Caltha palustris - Marsh Marigold
€3.00
King cup or Marsh marigold (Lus buí Bealtaine) Once established, Caltha palustris or commonly known as the King cup or Marsh marigold produces a mass of bright yellow flowers very early in the spring. After flowering in March and April most foliage will gradually die back as the flowers fade, but sometimes it has a second flowering later in the ...

Cardamine pratensis - Cuckoo flower
€4.75
Cuckoo flower or Lady’s Smock Mounds of pale green ferny foliage with pale lilac blooms in late spring & early summer. The Cuckoo Flower is noted for attracting wildlife, it is one of the main food plants of the Orange Tip butterfly. Cardamine pratensis is best grown in large drifts in damp woodland, meadows or as a marginal plant in the moi...
Eupatorium cannabinum
Eupatorium cannabinum
€3.00
Hemp Agrimony (Cnáib uisce) Eupatorium cannabinum must be one of the most popular among bees and butterflies. Native throughout Ireland and found by ponds, rivers, on seacliffs and indeed in ditches, this is a big plant, with nice upright and reddish, branched stems carrying racemes of wide flat flowerheads with tiny pink flowers from July to S...