Water Crowfoot

Ranunculus aquatilis is a native aquatic perennial known from ponds, lakes, streams, and ditches. This mat-forming oxygenator has branching, thread-like submerged leaves, and toothed floating leaves with 3-7 shallow, palmate lobes. From late April until July, small (12-20mm across) white flowers with yellow stamens are held a few centimetres above the water, and these are appreciated by many of our pollinators, such as bees, hoverflies, and butterflies. R. aquatilis should be grown in full sun, and will tolerate both still and slow-moving water; however, in water that flows more quickly, floating leaves will not be produced. The mass of submerged foliage aids in oxygenating the water very efficiently and also provides welcome shelter for all sorts of aquatic life. Plant up into pond baskets containing aquatic soil and finish with a layer of pea gravel to stop the planting medium from clouding the water. Submerge the basket in water between 30cm (12") in depth, moving to a maximum depth of 60cm (24") as it becomes established. This plant is also often supplied in weighted bunches which may be dropped into the middle of the pond, where they should settle and take root in the substrate. Deadhead the flowers once it has finished flowering. This plant requires little maintenance and is generally pest-free. Typical spread is 50cm (20") within 2 years. Propagation is from seed or cuttings.

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