JUDGING from the current rainy spell, it would probably be wise to consider water-loving plants for the garden over the next few months.
SAGITTARIA LATIFOLIA: This plant produces edible tubers.
Oxygenating aquatic plants
How about some aquatic plants that will also help to keep your water feature clean? The water in a natural pond is normally clear and unpolluted. In order to prevent ponds in our backyards from becoming muddy, we need to introduce oxygenating plants to keep a natural balance. Remember that plants release oxygen into the water.
These floating or submerged indigenous plants include water hyacinths, pistia, hornwort, arrowhead, iris, Ponderia lancifolia and the acorus species. We can classify the various types of aquatic plants into groups such as floating, submerged and partially submerged.
Sagittaria latifolia
Also known as broadleaf arrowhead or duck potato, this is an aquatic plant with white flowers. It is found in shallow wetlands and partially submerged in ponds.
This plant produces edible tubers that are used by the indigenous peoples of theAmericas. Aquatic animals like beavers, porcupines and muskrats eat the whole plant.
Typha latifolia
This is a papyrus water plant which was recorded in the Bible as the reed of theNileRiverused to make a basket to keep baby Moses afloat – he was later rescued by an Egyptian Princess.
This famous water reed was used to make paper in the past as well as packing string. The name Typha originates from the Greek word typha – meaning bulrush and cattail. The word latifolia is taken from Latin tatus, meaning broad, and folius, which means leaf.
Cattails add a beautiful textured background along the margins of water gardens. The fuzzy heads are actually seed capsules that form after the greenish flowers fade and dry up.
This is an erect rhizomatous and semi-aquatic perennial herb. The leaves are linear and the flat blade is on average half an inch wide. Each vegetative shoot would have over 10 leaves arising from the rhizome. The ribbon-like structure of the leaves have a spongy cross-section with air channels inside. This keeps it light and able to stay upright even in windy conditions.
There are several species and hybrids such as Typha latifolia x Typha angustifolia – a glaucus cattail common in the Midwest of the United States, which can also be found locally now.
CYPERUS PAPYRUS: This plant is often used for landscaping and water features because of the reed’s spreading crown.
Growing tips
Cattails can be planted in water-based containers to allow for a constantly wet environment. This enables the rhizomes to spread and grow new shoots. Container planting may confine the spreading of rhizomes. This will start a tight root ball that can then be divided for new plants.
Use peat moss and soil to allow the plant to settle in a shallow bottom pond. Newly planted Typha may require support initially.
This plant will also act as a water purifier, as nutrients from faeces of aquarium fish or leftover feed can be used by the plants, which in turn will help to clear up the water.
Maintenance work is required every two to three months. Trim away dead leaves and stalks to allow fresh leaves to shoot up. The flower stalks can be used for flower arrangements.
Cyperus papyrus
Papyrus sedge or paper reed is well known. This monocot from the Sedge family is a herbaceous perennial native toAfrica. Locally we have this reed in some low-lying swamps and river basins. It is also known as bog plant.
It is often used for landscaping and water features as the reed has a spreading crown. At up to five metres tall, it has also been used to make boats for the Nile. Parts of the plant such as the pith can be eaten raw or cooked. The flowering heads are used for making garlands.
Cyperus papyrus has a triangular stem that is topped by a dense cluster of thin, bright green thread-like stems. The young parts of the rhizome are covered by brownish scales at the culms. Botanically these culms are the remains of leaves, thus it is not quite right to say this plant has no leaves.
Use a good-sized container half filled with compost and soil for this water-loving plant.
Toh Nursery at Jalan Haji Baki, Semaba has lots of water-loving plants such as lotus, water lily, Cyperus and Typha at various stages for you to consider.
Do send me an email if you have any questions. Happy gardening.