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Bog Plants & Pond Marginal Plants
If you have an area of your garden that is continuously waterlogged it may be easier to turn the area into a bog garden rather than go through extensive and sometimes expensive drainage options. Bog Plants & Pond Marginal Plants
A bog garden is a perfect way of utilising often less than perfect soil to create an attractive and unusual feature in your garden. Used next to ponds bog gardens create a natural movement from moisture loving plants to aquatic plants and are an ideal habitat for wildlife. Using a liner in the soil next to a pond will help to retain the moisture that bog plants need and love. Ensure your bog garden is situated at least 1ft away from your pond and at a lower level as to prevent vital nutrients escaping from the bog into the pond. Nutrient imbalance in a pond i.e. too much, will not only alter its appearance but also its diversity and structure.
Best in late summer when other plants are dying back bog plants give you showy growth until the frost hits them. When buying bog plants ensure they are the correct species for the type of soil you have. Some species prefer wet or simply moist conditions around their roots. Others such as Caltha species can survive being waterlogged and even flooded conditions.
There are many species of bog plants available for a wide range of conditions, here are some examples:
Gunnera Manicata - Chile Rhubarb, Giant Rhubarb Gunnera Manicata - Chile Rhubarb, Giant Rhubarb
Gigantic, deeply-lobed, deep green leaves up to 2 metres across on prickly stalks. This majestic, architectural plant is perfect for the edge of a large pond or stream.
One of the most spectacular plants that can be grown in Britain, it requires deep, permanently moist, humus-rich soil, lots of space and protection from cold, drying winds.
 
Arum Lily - Zantedeschia aethiopica Arum Lily - Zantedeschia aethiopica
The iconic arum lily is an exotic looking perennial with strikingly large heart shaped foliage that produces one of the most breathtaking flowers that can be grown outside in the UK.
This moisture loving beauty is ideal for damp soil or a pond margin where it will quickly clump up to produce masses of wonderful blooms. In colder areas cover with a mulch of straw through the winter.
 
Hostas - Plantain Lily Hostas - Plantain Lily
The popular and handsome hosta is an ideal perennial groundcover plant for moist, well-drained areas of the garden. Many varieties are available from the very large to the very small. The flowers of the hosta are somewhat underrated and can quickly brighten up that shady part of your garden. The hosta is happy in sun or shade, but prefers to be sheltered from cold drying winds.
 
Caltha Palustris - Marsh Marigold Caltha Palustris - Marsh Marigold
Marsh marigolds produce striking deep yellow flowers in spring and early summer (March to June) on top of glossy deep green kidney shaped leaves. Ideally suited to bog gardens and pond margins the marsh marigold loves to have its feet wet at all times.
The flowers are loved by bees and butterflies as this water loving perennial is rich in nectar. Over time this plant will spread to form a deep glossy carpet attractive to both admirers and wildlife. A must have bog and pond plant.

 
Darmera peltata - Umbrella Plant Darmera peltata - Umbrella Plant
This slow spreading perennial is found in damp woodland in the western united states. Darmera peltata is a large architectural plant that produces deep green leaves over half a metre across on one to two metre tall stems. The leaves of the umbrella plant turn red in autumn creating an all new look.
This plant produces pink and white clusters of flowers rising above and sometimes before the foliage in late spring. It is an ideal replacement for gunnera (above) if you do not have the room.

 
Rodgersia - Rodgersia podophylla Rodgersia - Rodgersia podophylla
Rodgersia loves damp soil but hates being waterlogged or flooded so positioning of your plant in your bog garden or pond margin is important.
This fully hardy perennial produces large architectural leaves that start out bronze then turning to a rich glossy green in May and June. This plant will grow in part shade very happily and will even tolerate full sun if the roots are kept moist. Happy in slightly acidic or alkaline soils this slug proof stunner is a bog garden favourite.

 
Yellow Flag - 'Iris pseudacorus' Yellow Flag Iris - Iris pseudacorus
The yellow flag iris has tall sword shaped leaves up to one metre and produces stunning yellow flowers. This plant prefers to be very wet and can even tolerate being submerged to a shallow depth in the pond. Although an aquatic plant Iris pseudacorus is ideal for a bog garden as it can tolerate a wide range of conditions including short spells of dryness. It is also an excellent water cleaner as it can take up pollution from the water and is ideal for dirty water and drain outlets such as sceptic tank run offs. This fast growing plant can spread quickly and may need thinning out every couple of years.

 
Ligularia - The Rocket aka Golden groundsel Ligularia - The Rocket aka Golden groundsel
A truly stunning plant, the large serrated leaved 'Ligularia' is an excellent addition to your bog garden. Ligularia produces bright tall exotic flowers on contrasting dark stems in July to august. It prefers dappled shade and requires plenty of moisture at the roots. 'The Rocket' has been awarded a prestigious RHS award of garden merit. This large clump forming perennial needs plenty of room to grow and may need to be placed towards the back of your border.

 
Osmunda regalis - Royal Fern Osmunda regalis - Royal Fern
This moisture loving giant fern can attract a lot of attention in the garden. Put this in your garden and you will be asked 'What is it and where can I get one?'. It prefers a damp slightly acidic clay soil where it can unfold its colossal fronds before turning bronze in the autumn.

 
Rheum palmatum - Chinese Rhubarb / Ornamental Rhubarb
Tall spires red-crimson flowers in early summer held proudly above coarsely toothed, reddish-green leaves, held on gorgeous blood red stems. This excellent large foliage plant is closely related to garden rhubarb and will not take over your border or pond margin as much as the gigantic Gunnera. With large leaves atop striking red stems this is a real eye catcher.

  More Bog Loving Plants...

 
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Let's Go Gardening UK  -  Bog Plants & Pond Marginal Plants

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