Marshwort Fringed Water Lily

Marshwort (Nymphoides geminata), also called Entire Marshwort or fringed water lily, is an Australian native floating-leaved plant from the still fresh waters of eastern Australia. Small round to heart-shaped leaves rest on the surface, and through the warm months bright yellow, five-petalled flowers with fringed edges stand just above them. It spreads by runners, and a single plant can cover a metre of water in a season.

Why you'll love it

• A native alternative to a water lily. It gives the floating-leaf look in a pond planted with local species.
• Fringed yellow flowers. Each small bloom has five petals with finely frilled margins, held clear of the water on warm days.
• Shelter for pond life. Native frogs and aquatic insects use the cover of the leaves, and tadpoles shelter beneath them.
• Fits shallow water. It grows in as little as 10cm, so it suits frog ponds and bowls too shallow for true lilies.
• Quick to cover. Runners spread across the surface and shade the water, which helps keep it cool and clear.

Where it works best

Frog ponds and wildlife ponds. Plant one pot per square metre of surface in 10 to 50cm of water, and let it knit between upright natives at the edge.

Water bowls. A single plant covers a bowl. Thin it by hand whenever leaves cover more than about two thirds of the water.

Dams and larger ponds. Plant 1m apart in the still shallows, straight into the mud, for a sheet of small leaves and summer flowers.

Growing Marshwort Fringed Water Lily in Australia

Position and climate. Sun to light shade, with the most flowers in full sun. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens. Growth slows in winter and the plant can thin out in cold areas, returning as the water warms.

Soil and planting depth. Grow it in a pot of heavy loam or directly in mud, with 10 to 50cm of water over the crown. It is a plant of still water and will not thrive in a current or under a splash.

Water and feed. Keep the water level reasonably steady. It rarely needs feeding in an established pond. In a bowl, a small amount of slow-release fertiliser in the soil each spring is plenty.

Pruning. Thinning is the main task. In a small pond, pull out surplus runners a few times over summer and compost them well away from any water. Keep it in ponds, bowls and containers and out of natural waterways.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Marshwort in 140mm pots in packs of 10. Ten plants suits a dam, a large wildlife pond or several smaller ponds. One plant is enough for a bowl, so share a pack if your water is small. Plants arrive potted and damp, not submerged, and should go into water promptly. Floating leaves often collapse or yellow in transit. Lower the pot into shallow water and new leaves reach the surface within a couple of weeks in warm weather. Our growers do not hold every size all year, so a size can show as on backorder at times. An order for a backorder size is confirmed with you before anything ships.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The best water plants for Australian garden ponds
• Browse Australian native plants
• Designing a native garden that attracts wildlife

Common questions

Is Marshwort a true water lily?

No. It looks like a miniature one, with floating leaves and flowers above the water, but it belongs to a different family and spreads by runners.

Will it take over my pond?

It can cover a small pond in a summer if left alone. It is easy to control: lift out handfuls of runners until about a third of the surface is open again.

How deep should the water be?

Between 10 and 50cm over the crown. In deeper ponds, stand the pot on bricks so the leaves can reach the surface easily.