12 plants that can't lack in your aquatic garden

12 plants that can't lack in your aquatic garden

Interest in aquatic flora has been increasing with the enhancement of the water element in Landscaping. We see more and more the insertion of water mirrors, lakes and biological pools in the landscape projects, which leads us to ask ourselves: What about plants? Yes! They are present! Both inside and outside the water, in that soaked region that we call marginal or palustre.

Aquatic plants are an eternal source of fascination for those passionate about plants and gardens. And it is not surprising! They are always green and with beautiful surprises throughout the year for us privileged by the tropical climate. But they are also the source of many doubts. "What plant is that?", "How to plant it?" and "What care should I take?" are just the beginning.

So, I selected some species with their basic characteristics and cultivation method, which certainly cannot be missing in your aquatic garden! They are divided into the following groups to facilitate the choice when using them: Marginals or Palustres; Fixed Floatings Aquatics; and Free Floating Aquatics.

Marginals or Palustrial

Marginal or palustrial plants are those that develop in soaked soil or under a small water layer, a condition found on the banks of lakes and ponds. They will form the frame of our aquatic garden, highlighting the water surface in the middle of the landscape.

Imagem: Dicas de Saúde

1. Chapéu de couro

Scientific name: Echinodorusgrandiflorus

Family: Alismataceae

Source: Native of Brazil

Characteristics and cultivation: Palustrine herb, perennial and rhizomatous, reaches up to 2 m in height, very ornamental. It has large leaves, rough texture, and inflorescences with very beautiful white flowers. It is also a medicinal plant used for various purposes in popular medicine. It should be grown on soaked soils, in full sun or half shade.

2. Copo-de-leite

Scientific name: Zantedeschia Aethiopica

Family: Araceae

Source: Originally from South Africa

Characteristics and cultivation: Herbaceous palustre that reaches about 80 cm in height. It has very ornamental basal leaves, dark green in color and inflorescence, also ornamental, with white spathe, arranged above the foliage. Ideal to be grown on the banks of lakes in tanks in half shade.

Imagem: Flores e Folhagens

3. Inhame-preto

Scientific name: Colocasia Esculenta Var. Aquatilis

Family: Araceae

Source: Native of tropical Asia

Characteristics and cultivation:Palustrine herb, perennial, rhizomatous and stoloniferous, with very ornamental foliage. It is acaule and cespitosa, reaching 1.5 m in height. Its beautiful leaves have a long petiole and black-purple purplish membrane. It should be grown in soaked soils or in water, under a small blade, in half shade or full sun.

Imagem: Uma Flor por Dia

4. Sombrinha-chinesa

Scientific name: Cyperus Alternifolius

Family: Cyperaceae

Source: Native of Madagascar

Characteristics and cultivation:Palustrine herb, perennial and rhizomatous, with size ranging from 0.5 to 1.8 m in height. Its foliage is very ornamental, with several upright stems with a crown of bright green leaves at the apex. Ideal for formation of massifs on the banks of ponds and lakes.

Fixed Floating Aquatics

The fixed floating aquatic plants are planted at the bottom of the lake, where their roots and rhizomes are fixed, while their leaves reach the water surface. The depth of planting varies a lot with the species, so it is always important to seek to know more about the plant we are growing!

Imagem Fauna e Flora do RN

5. Papoula-do-brejo

Scientific name: Hydrocleysnymphoides

Family: Alismataceae

Source: Native of the Americas

Characteristics and cultivation:Herbácea aquática, rizomatosa e muito ornamental, tanto pelo efeito de suas folhas como flores. As folhas são ovais e brilhantes; as flores amarelas, formadas na primavera e verão. Ajusta-se facilmente a diferentes profundidades, desde 50 a 15 cm abaixo da superfície.

Imagem: G1

6. Trevo-aquático

Scientific name: Marsilea Deflexa

Family: Masileaceae

Source: Native of Brazil

Características e cultivo: Aquatic pteridophyte, which has delicate floating foliage, similar to the four-leaf clover. It reproduces very well vegetatively through the release of new shoots. It should be planted directly in the lake's mud or in a pot with a substrate rich in organic matter, in a depth of 50 to 10 cm.

Imagem: Arquitetos e Paisagistas

7. Estrela-branca

Scientific name: Nymphoides indica

Family: Menyanthaceae

Origem: América e África tropicais

Characteristics and cultivation: Aquatic, rhizomatous and very ornamental herbaceous. Its leaves are similar to those of water lilies, but in much smaller dimensions, up to 10 cm in diameter. Its beautiful white and densely hairy flowers are formed in spring and summer. It should be planted on the substrate under a water column of up to 40 cm in full sun or half shade.

8. Ninfeias

Scientific name: Nymphaea Spp.

Family: Nymphaeaceae

Source: Distributed all over the world

Characteristics and cultivation:Herbaceous tuberous, aquatic, with ornamental foliage and flowering. Large, orbicular, leathery and shiny leaves. The flowers are large, solitary, of different colors: white, blue, purple, pink and yellow. They must be planted in mud or in pots, at least 30 cm deep, and under a water column that can vary from 30 cm to 1.0 m, depending on the species.

Free Floating Aquatics

Plants that are floating on the water surface and do not need a substrate to root are known as free floating aquatic plants. It is a very interesting group that gives movement to the aquatic garden, since they change their position according to the movement of the water.

Imagem: Flora Aquática

9. Camalotinho

Scientific name: Limnobium Laevigatum

Family: Hydrocharitaceae

Source: Central and South America

Characteristics and cultivation:Aquatic herbaceous, free floating or rooted, with very ornamental foliage. The leaves are elliptical with a rounded apex, with a lower surface with air pockets. The flowers are of secondary ornamental importance. It should be grown free on the surface of lakes, water mirrors or tubs, in half shade or full sun.

Imagem: Biologia da Conservação

10. Aguapé

Scientific name: Eichhorniacrassipes

Family: Pontederiaceae

Source: Native of Brazil

Characteristics and cultivation: Aquatic herbaceous, free floating or rooted, with foliage and very ornamental flowering. The leaves are immersed with inflated petioles and rounded blades. The inflorescence reaches up to 15 cm with flowers of lilac to bluish color, formed in summer and autumn.

11. Lombrigueira

Scientific name: Ludwigiahelminthorrhiza

Family: Onagraceae

Source: Native of Brazil

Characteristics and cultivation: Aquatic herbaceous, free floating or rooted, with foliage and very ornamental flowering. It has white worms-like floats; green and shiny leaves; solitary, axillary flowers, white in color, formed almost all year round. Very vigorous tropical plant, which can be used in lakes, water mirrors or dams. Its maintenance must be periodic, pruning branches in order to avoid their spread. Does not tolerate frosts.

Imagem: Líder Agronomia

12. Azolla

Scientific name: Azollafiliculoides

Family: Azollaceae

Source: Native of South America

Characteristics and cultivation:Delicate aquatic pteridophyte, up to 2.5 cm. It has a branched stem and numerous roots. Ideal for small environments, such as vases, tubs and fountains, but also in larger lakes, since used in forming small groups. The half-shade has a green color, while in full sun it acquires a red color. This species has cavities inhabited by cyanobacteria, which fix nitrogen in the medium. The excess of plants on the water surface should be removed whenever necessary, especially in the summer - the time of greatest growth.

These species are just a little of what exists in the universe of aquatic plants, but they will certainly make our aquatic garden more beautiful and more alive. It is always worth remembering that the management of these plants is essential. Most aquatic plants are very vigorous and fast growing, so they need pruning and removal of excess plants constantly.

By: Uli Suadicani

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