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AquaticFerns

Marsilea mutica

Australian water clover

Slowly spreading aquatic perennial fern, usually grown in shallow water. Glossy, dark green leaves, with pale green central marbling patterns are 2-3cm across, formed of 4 triangular leaflets that float on the water surface on long stalks

Other common names

smooth nardoo

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Loam

Moisture

Poorly–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Marsileaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Spreading branched, Floating
Genus: Marsilea can be aquatic, marginal or terrestrial, rhizomatous ferns forming mats of clover-like leaves with 4 fan-shaped leaflets
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Australia, New Caledonia

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in rich soil, in muddy pool margins or in lattice baskets filled with loamy soil at a depth of no more than 15cm in full sun. See pond plants for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by division of rhizomes in summer; peg down in shallow water

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Ground cover

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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