Species Lesser Water-Plantain
white-yellow flowers with lime center, green buds, leaves and stems

Lesser Water-Plantain

Baldellia ranunculoides

The Lesser Water-Plantain (Baldellia ranunculoides) is a perennial aquatic flowering plant species found predominantly in northern Europe and southern and central parts of Asia. It grows to a height of between 5-30cm, with basal leaves that are heart-shaped and wavy-edged, with numerous white flower spikes in summer. The fruit of the plant is an ovoid capsule containing 4-8 seeds. This is an ideal species for planting in boggy areas in a garden, as it thrives in waterlogged soil and provides cover for water-dwelling insects and pond creatures. It can even provide shelter for fish in the colder months, as the foliage remains green through the winter.

Watering:

Frequent

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun,part sun/part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,red,brown

Growth Rate:

High

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Low

watering

For the mosquito fern (Azolla caroliniana), it is best to water twice a week with an inch of water each time. Additionally, it is helpful to mist the fern daily to keep its delicate leaves from drying out.

sunlight

Mosquito Fern (Azolla caroliniana) requires plenty of direct sunlight to grow and thrive. It has been shown to do best when exposed to 10-12 hours of bright sunlight each day. However, if planted in an area with too much direct sunlight, it is prone to drying out and wilting. As such, if planted outdoors, it's recommended to site it in a partially shaded area that receives a few hours of direct sunlight each day combined with some indirect light.

pruning

Mosquito Fern (Azolla caroliniana) should be pruned regularly and heavily. Pruning should occur once a month in the spring and summer months, and once every 2 months in the fall and winter. It is important to remove any dead or dying leaves as part of the pruning process. Using sharp, clean scissors or pruners, cut the Mosquito Fern back to half its height every time it is pruned. This will help keep the plant healthy and promote new growth.

⚠️ Perenual and its members cannot be held liable for any health issues that may arise from the information provided on the website or from using any of the plants found on the site. The information provided is intended to be used as general guidelines only.