Hottonia palustris is a pretty, native perennial which may be grown as a marginal plant or as an oxygenator in calm, relatively shallow water. The fine, serrated foliage is fern-like in appearance, growing to the water's surface, and creating mats of cover. Erect stems rise out of the water, bearing whorls of primula-like, subtly fragrant, pale lilac flowers in terminal racemes from May until July. This is a low maintenance plant which is best grown in full sun or partial shade. The submerged foliage creates a maze of hiding places for fry and other small aquatic creatures, and the emerged stems are an ideal place for dragonflies and damselflies to rest. Plant either directly into the moist margins of the pond, or into baskets if you want to position the plants further in. Maximum suggested depth is 20cm (8") for new or small plants and up to 60cm (24") deep if the plants are larger, more mature specimens. As this plant is not a vigorous grower, it will not require much thinning out. Unfortunately, this species does not tend to do well in newly constructed ponds, so it really is best to plant in mature waters only. Propagation is from seed, division, or cuttings. To grow from seed, sow during the spring in small baskets of aquatic soil that are stood in water, and only just cover the seed with the planting medium. Once the summer arrives and the seedlings are large and robust enough to handle, plant them into the pond in the desired location. Alternatively, either divide the rootstock before the growing season begins, or take cuttings and position these in the submerged soil at the margins of the pond. Many aquarists also have much success in simply dropping cuttings into the water, allowing the plant to send out roots and take hold in random areas. Interestingly, H. palustris produces turions " root buds that detach from the parent plant and sink to the bottom of the pond to survive the winter; then once spring arrives, the emerging buds float to the surface and start to grow.
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