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Alphabetical List Of Reliable Plants |
 In other chapters we have dealt with water-lilies, water iris,
bog plants, primulas, bamboos and ferns, floating and sub-
merged plants, but apart from these there are many plants
which may be used to beautify the stream, pool and pond.
Some, in fact, are essential for the well-being of fish and other
plant life. There are many which are suitable for quite shal-
low water as well as for deeper places and it is possible to
make 'steps' in the water so that plants requiring various
depths can be grown side by side.
While it is a good plan to have variety, no attempt should
be made to completely fill the pond or other type of water
garden, for most plants spread. Especially in the case of plants
which have stoloniferous roots and creeping growth, a watch-
ful eye must be kept so that such subjects do not crowd out the
compact and often more pleasing subjects.
One way to restrict plants with deep spreading roots, is to
place them in pots, tubs or concrete pockets which will keep
them in a confined space.
The following is an alphabetical list of some good miscel-
laneous aquatic plants, which will give an idea of what is
available.
Acorus. This is a fine hardy plant which is said to have
some medicinal qualities. It grows in shallow water and is
easy to divide in the spring.
A. calamus has broad iris-like leaves and a stem two to three
feet high. This bears a head of greenish flowers.
A. calamus 'variegatus' has pretty, green and cream striped
foliage.
A. gramineus is very suitable for shallow water. Its grassy
foliage is eight to ten inches high.
Alisma plantago-aquatica is the Water Plantain and quite a
pretty plant for ponds and streams. It has ample foliage and
white flowers. There is a variety with rose-coloured flowers.
Aponogeton. This is a plant producing floating leaves and
spikes of sweetly-scented, white flowers.
A. distachyus is the Water Hawthorn or Cape Pond Weed
from South Africa.
Brasenia peltata or schreberi is an interesting hardy plant for
the pond or aquarium. It has small oval leaves and purple-
coloured flowers.
Butomus umbellatus is the Flowering Rush and one of our
pretty native plants. It is very suitable for water up to nine
inches deep and is easily propagated by division. During June
and July it produces attractive rose-pink flowers on two- to
three-foot stems.
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