Hottonia palustris
Water violet
Common names: Featherfoil
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Pot size
- from 50 l
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Flowering
- May–Jun
- Hardiness
- Hardy
- Origin
- Native to Germany
Photo: Public Domain · Source
Description
Hottonia palustris is a native submerged aquatic plant with finely divided, feather‑like foliage that resembles delicate feathers. In May to June it produces slender stalks bearing delicate white flower spikes that rise above the water surface, giving ponds and natural ponds a fine, airy accent. As an oxygen supplier, it keeps the water clear and provides shelter for small organisms. The species is protected, so plants for private ponds should only come from certified nursery propagation, never from wild collection.
Care instructions
Plant in shallow, clear water with a nutrient‑poor to moderately nutrient‑rich silt substrate, preferably in sunny to partially shaded conditions. It thrives best in calm, slowly flowing or still waters with a depth of about 20 to 50 cm. In late autumn cut back dead shoots to prevent rotting sludge, and in spring gently thin dense stands. The plant is hardy and retreats to the pond bottom as a winter bud in winter, resprouting in spring. Keep the water clean and low in algae to maintain the plant as a reliable component of the pond ecosystem for years.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
FloweringMay–Jun
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
moist, humus-rich, loamy
As a submerged plant, the water violet roots in the muddy, humus-rich substrate of ponds and ditches. It feels most at home in clear, still to gently flowing water over a fine, loamy-muddy bed. It is regarded as an indicator of clean, rather nutrient-poor waters and suffers in over-fertilised water where algae spread. A slightly acidic to neutral, soft body of water suits it best.
Feeding
Light feeder
As a wild perennial, the water violet needs no additional feeding. Water that is too rich in nutrients encourages algae growth rather than the plant itself. A natural nutrient input from fish or fallen leaves is quite enough.
Overwintering
In autumn the water violet forms winter buds, known as turions, which sink to the bottom and survive there sheltered. As long as the water does not freeze solid, the plant comes through the winter without problems. In a shallow garden pond it helps to ensure a sufficient water depth of at least 40 cm, so the turions stay frost-free.
Propagation
Methods
- Division
- Cuttings
The easiest way to propagate the water violet is by dividing the shoots in spring, as soon as growth starts again. Tip cuttings can also be placed directly in the water and root reliably. In addition, the plant sows itself in the pond through its winter buds, so you often do not have to intervene at all.
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