peasoup

Plants

Everything currently in the pond, with its status at the last health check.

Marginal

Flowering rush

Butomus umbellatus

Height 90cm, spread 45cm. Full sun, hardy. Planting depth 5-45cm above soil.

Added
2 Jul 2026
Checked
24 Aug 2026
Status
thriving
Flowering rush shortly after planting Flowering rush, 25 Jul 2026 Flowering rush, 28 Jul 2026
  1. 24 Aug 2026 thriving

    Still thriving, one of the standout performers as the pond water clears a bit post-heatwave.

  2. 28 Jul 2026 thriving

    Root system bursting out of its basket — the most vigorous grower of the marginals by some margin.

  3. 25 Jul 2026 steady

    Doing alright but not as strong as the carex. No flower this year, which is normal for a first season after planting — looks to be putting its reserves into root establishment.

  4. 6 Jul 2026 steady

    Adapting well.

  5. 2 Jul 2026 planted

    Planted out.

White flowering rush

Butomus umbellatus

White-flowered form, kept as a separate entry from the existing (pink-flowered) Flowering rush.

Added
28 Jul 2026
Checked
28 Jul 2026
Status
planted
White flowering rush shortly after planting
  1. 28 Jul 2026 planted

    One planted out.

Hard rush

Juncus inflexus

Native. Stiff, grey-green, upright stems. Tolerates a range of water depths.

Added
28 Jul 2026
Checked
28 Jul 2026
Status
planted
Hard rush shortly after planting
  1. 28 Jul 2026 planted

    One planted out.

Water mint

Mentha aquatica

Native. Shallow margins, tolerates damp soil to a few cm of water. Aromatic.

Added
28 Jul 2026
Checked
24 Aug 2026
Status
steady
Water mint shortly after planting
  1. 24 Aug 2026 steady

    Going steady on the upper shelf.

  2. 7 Aug 2026 thriving

    Moved up to the first shelf of the central fountain feature to benefit from running water; clearly thriving in this position.

  3. 28 Jul 2026 planted

    One planted out.

Water forget-me-not

Myosotis scorpioides

Native. Shallow margins, small blue flowers May-Sept.

Added
28 Jul 2026
Checked
24 Aug 2026
Status
steady
Water forget-me-not shortly after planting
  1. 24 Aug 2026 steady

    Going steady on the upper shelf.

  2. 7 Aug 2026 thriving

    Moved up to the first shelf of the central fountain feature to benefit from running water; clearly thriving in this position.

  3. 28 Jul 2026 planted

    Two planted out.

Brooklime

Veronica beccabunga

Native shallow water plant. 0-10cm above soil. Flowers May-Aug.

Added
2 Jul 2026
Checked
24 Aug 2026
Status
steady
Brooklime shortly after planting Brooklime, 25 Jul 2026
  1. 24 Aug 2026 steady

    Going steady on the upper shelf.

  2. 7 Aug 2026 steady

    Moved up to the first shelf of the fountain feature for running water; doing a bit better and showing signs of improvement.

  3. 28 Jul 2026 struggling

    Teetering on the edge of something, unclear whether it'll pull through.

  4. 25 Jul 2026 steady

    Scorched by the hot weather since being raised out of the water, with less coverage around the crown. On a warning watch, but still sending up vertical shoots.

  5. 19 Jul 2026 thriving

    Raised out of the water slightly during the clear-out. Still sending up new shoots.

  6. 15 Jul 2026 thriving

    Sending up new shoots.

  7. 2 Jul 2026 planted

    Planted out.

Lesser pond sedge

Carex acutiformis

Native shallow water plant. Up to 15cm above soil. Height to 123cm, flowers June-Aug, shade tolerant.

Added
2 Jul 2026
Checked
24 Aug 2026
Status
thriving
Lesser pond sedge shortly after planting Lesser pond sedge, 25 Jul 2026 Lesser pond sedge, 28 Jul 2026
  1. 24 Aug 2026 thriving

    Still thriving as the pond water clears a bit post-heatwave.

  2. 28 Jul 2026 steady

    Doing fine through the clear-out and re-planting.

  3. 25 Jul 2026 thriving

    Very good health. Ordering more for the architectural verticality it gives the pond.

  4. 6 Jul 2026 steady

    Adapting well.

  5. 2 Jul 2026 planted

    Planted out.

Creeping jenny

Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'

Spreading perennial. Flowers June-Aug. Up to 15cm of water, height to 8cm.

Added
2 Jul 2026
Checked
24 Aug 2026
Status
steady
Creeping jenny shortly after planting Creeping jenny, 25 Jul 2026 Creeping jenny, 28 Jul 2026
  1. 24 Aug 2026 steady

    Going steady on the upper shelf.

  2. 7 Aug 2026 steady

    Moved up to the upper tier of the fountain feature; doing a bit better with the added clearance from the biofilm.

  3. 28 Jul 2026 struggling

    Biofilm building up aggressively again despite already being raised out of the water; moved up onto the fountain's upper tier for more clearance.

  4. 25 Jul 2026 steady

    Browning on the older trailing leaves, attributable to scorch — the gold cultivar has less chlorophyll and so less capacity to dissipate excess light. Probably sitting too deep; plan to raise it onto one of the fountain ledges.

  5. 19 Jul 2026 steady

    Algae building up on the leaves, so raised it out of the water a bit.

  6. 6 Jul 2026 steady

    Adapting well.

  7. 2 Jul 2026 planted

    Planted out.

Oxygenators

Hornwort

Ceratophyllum demersum

Weighted bunch. Throw on the surface and it sinks, or push into soil.

Added
2 Jul 2026
Checked
25 Jul 2026
Status
struggling
Hornwort shortly after planting Hornwort, 25 Jul 2026
  1. 25 Jul 2026 struggling

    Dark olive rather than vibrant green, with a pale crust on the older growth — biogenic decalcification, calcium carbonate precipitating onto the leaves as it strips bicarbonate at pH 9, compounded by filamentous algae shading it. Still producing new shoots at the tips. Plan is a bulk reorder rather than a rescue.

  2. 11 Jul 2026 steady

    The three bunches added on the 8th melted away within days — the heat and the pH of 9 did for them. The original planting is holding.

  3. 8 Jul 2026 thriving

    Three more bunches added to bulk up the oxygenators.

  4. 2 Jul 2026 planted

    Planted out.

Willow moss

Fontinalis antipyretica

Native. Prefers moving water and cooler conditions. Planting depth 20-90cm.

Added
2 Jul 2026
Checked
6 Jul 2026
Status
steady
  1. 6 Jul 2026 steady

    Adapting well.

  2. 2 Jul 2026 planted

    Planted out.

Water starwort

Callitriche

Native. Weighted bunch, placed just below the water line until established. Planting depth 15-45cm.

Added
2 Jul 2026
Checked
7 Aug 2026
Status
thriving
Water starwort shortly after planting Water starwort, 28 Jul 2026 Water starwort, 28 Jul 2026 Water starwort, 7 Aug 2026
  1. 7 Aug 2026 thriving

    Thriving as I can't stop pulling tiny little green shoots from the water column when attempting to clear excess organic detritus.

  2. 28 Jul 2026 steady

    Pot knocked over during the clear-out and the anchored tuft lost, but loose strands are turning up floating happily across the main pond — looks to have gone fully free-floating rather than died back.

  3. 19 Jul 2026 struggling

    Only a few stems anchored. Took the floating clump and moved it onto one of the fountain tiers, since it prefers flowing water. Watching whether it takes.

  4. 11 Jul 2026 struggling

    Not anchoring itself. Viability uncertain.

  5. 2 Jul 2026 planted

    Planted out.

Mare's tail

Hippuris vulgaris

British native. Aquatic to 30cm or as a marginal. Label warns it can be invasive.

Added
2 Jul 2026
Checked
16 Aug 2026
Status
steady
Mare's tail shortly after planting Mare's tail, 25 Jul 2026 Mare's tail, 28 Jul 2026
  1. 16 Aug 2026 steady

    Three new plants have gone in and are doing well to establish themselves just out of shot, despite the heatwave.

  2. 7 Aug 2026 struggling

    Moved to the first shelf of the central fountain feature to test running water, but looks to be struggling there and might prefer being fully submerged.

  3. 28 Jul 2026 thriving

    Broken straight through the plastic basket, shooting for the surface — still the strongest performer in the pond. Bulked up with three more plants added alongside the original clump.

  4. 25 Jul 2026 thriving

    Excellent health, roughly quadrupled in size since planting. Best performer in the pond so far.

  5. 19 Jul 2026 thriving

    Spreading out, doing well.

  6. 6 Jul 2026 steady

    Adapting well.

  7. 2 Jul 2026 planted

    Planted out.

Fibre optic plant

Scirpus cernuus

Cotton bud grass. Up to 10cm of water. Acts as an oxygenator. Height 25-30cm, spread 50cm.

Added
2 Jul 2026
Checked
16 Aug 2026
Status
steady
Fibre optic plant shortly after planting Fibre optic plant, 25 Jul 2026 Fibre optic plant, 28 Jul 2026
  1. 16 Aug 2026 steady

    The new plants are doing well to establish themselves out of shot.

  2. 28 Jul 2026 steady

    Holding up fine through the clear-out and re-planting. Topped up with two more plants added alongside the originals.

  3. 25 Jul 2026 thriving

    One of the strongest performers. Ordering more in the next batch.

  4. 19 Jul 2026 steady

    Raised out of the water a bit during the clear-out.

  5. 6 Jul 2026 steady

    Adapting well.

  6. 2 Jul 2026 planted

    Planted out.

Floating

Water soldier

Stratiotes aloides

Perennial, flowers July, full sun, hardy. Drops straight in at 30cm. Sinks over winter.

Added
2 Jul 2026
Checked
11 Jul 2026
Status
lost
Water soldier shortly after planting
  1. 11 Jul 2026 lost

    Lost. Foliage had been falling apart since the 6th and it did not recover.

  2. 6 Jul 2026 struggling

    Foliage starting to fall apart. Not adapting well.

  3. 2 Jul 2026 planted

    Planted out.

Floating heart

Nymphoides peltata

Native. 30-60cm of water above soil, full sun to partial shade. Flowers June-Aug.

Added
2 Jul 2026
Checked
24 Aug 2026
Status
thriving
Floating heart shortly after planting Floating heart, 25 Jul 2026 Floating heart, 28 Jul 2026
  1. 24 Aug 2026 thriving

    Thriving again, back on the list of plants doing well as the water clears a bit post-heatwave.

  2. 16 Aug 2026 struggling

    Appears to be struggling up on the upper shelf of the fountain during the heatwave.

  3. 7 Aug 2026 steady

    Placed an unanchored strand or two on the first shelf of the fountain feature to test how it adapts to running water.

  4. 28 Jul 2026 thriving

    Older leaf die-back looks to be natural turnover for this species rather than decline — still pushing new shoots and spreading laterally.

  5. 25 Jul 2026 thriving

    Still putting up new shoots and pads continuously. Decaying leaves groomed off regularly to keep the nutrient load out of the water.

  6. 19 Jul 2026 thriving

    Root system sending up new stems. Spreading well.

  7. 11 Jul 2026 steady

    Anchoring well and sending up new pads, but some older pads rotting and want grooming.

  8. 2 Jul 2026 planted

    Planted out.

Common duckweed

Lemna minor

Inoculated from the balcony pond in an attempt to mitigate water evaporation during the summer heatwaves.

Added
13 Aug 2026
Checked
16 Aug 2026
Status
steady
Common duckweed shortly after planting
  1. 16 Aug 2026 steady

    Tiny fronds seem to be taking and establishing well after a couple of days in the water.

Deep water

Alba lily

Nymphaea alba

Rhizome planted at 45 degrees, weighted with pea gravel, full sun.

Added
2 Jul 2026
Checked
24 Aug 2026
Status
thriving
Alba lily shortly after planting Alba lily, 25 Jul 2026 Alba lily, 28 Jul 2026
  1. 24 Aug 2026 thriving

    Water lilies thriving again as the pond water clears a bit after the heatwaves subside.

  2. 28 Jul 2026 thriving

    Suffered the most visibly from being out of water during the clear-out — leaves curled within under an hour — but otherwise still the strongest grower in the pond.

  3. 25 Jul 2026 steady

    On the health watch list. Several pads on very long stems are dying back and are being removed as they rot, but new shoots are still coming up steadily. Long petioles suggest it may be sitting too deep.

  4. 19 Jul 2026 thriving

    Spreading out a lot now, rearranged to give it room.

  5. 15 Jul 2026 thriving

    Going absolutely nuts. Several new pads this week.

  6. 8 Jul 2026 steady

    One new pad appearing as the larger pad dies back.

  7. 2 Jul 2026 planted

    Planted out.

Unnamed water lily

Nymphaea sp.

Four rhizomes, all unlabelled/unknown cultivar, planted at 45 degrees and weighted with pea gravel alongside the existing Alba lily.

Added
28 Jul 2026
Checked
24 Aug 2026
Status
thriving
Unnamed water lily shortly after planting Unnamed water lily, 28 Jul 2026 Unnamed water lily, 28 Jul 2026 Unnamed water lily, 28 Jul 2026 Unnamed water lily, 7 Aug 2026 Unnamed water lily, 7 Aug 2026
  1. 24 Aug 2026 thriving

    Water lilies thriving again as the pond water clears a bit after the heatwaves subside.

  2. 7 Aug 2026 thriving

    Still adapting with new shoots climbing up and unfurling pads while older, larger pads die back. Highlight of the venture: a pink flower successfully bloomed (though it came in bud). Note minor aphid presence managed by brushing into water.

  3. 28 Jul 2026 planted

    Four unnamed water lilies planted out. One arrived with a flower bud already forming; also came with a hitchhiking snail on one of the root bundles.

Water hawthorn

Aponogeton distachyos

Cape pondweed. Strap-like floating leaves, fragrant white flowers. Prefers cooler water.

Added
28 Jul 2026
Checked
24 Aug 2026
Status
thriving
Water hawthorn shortly after planting Water hawthorn, 16 Aug 2026
  1. 24 Aug 2026 thriving

    Still thriving, holding its place among the strongest performers as the water clears a bit post-heatwave.

  2. 16 Aug 2026 thriving

    Definitely thriving. Already started blooming a couple of days back, with the first intrepid flower joined by a copilot standing strong above the water with peculiar orchid-like buds.

  3. 28 Jul 2026 planted

    One planted out.

Willow grass

Persicaria amphibia

Water knotweed. Native. Better in deep water but tolerates damp. Flowers July-Sept, planting depth 15-90cm.

Added
2 Jul 2026
Checked
28 Jul 2026
Status
steady
Willow grass shortly after planting Willow grass, 25 Jul 2026 Willow grass, 28 Jul 2026
  1. 28 Jul 2026 steady

    Doing fine through the clear-out and re-planting.

  2. 25 Jul 2026 thriving

    Looking good. Candidate for the next batch of plants.

  3. 6 Jul 2026 steady

    Adapting well.

  4. 2 Jul 2026 planted

    Planted out.

Bog

Marsh marigold

Caltha palustris

Native. Kingcup. Boggy margins to shallow water, flowers Mar-Jun (early — this planting is out of season).

Added
28 Jul 2026
Checked
24 Aug 2026
Status
thriving
Marsh marigold shortly after planting Marsh marigold, 24 Aug 2026
  1. 24 Aug 2026 thriving

    Thriving on the upper shelf.

  2. 28 Jul 2026 planted

    One planted out.