Lesser water plantain (Baldellia ranunculoides) is a very pretty small British native marginal plant similar to the larger Narrow-leaved water plantain and is quite rare in the wild due to deteriorating water quality.   It flowers from May to August producing multiple stems of loose umbels bearing 3 to 4 pretty very pale pink flowers.  Leaves are ribbon or strap-like under water and narrowly lanceolate (spear-shaped) above.  It has foliage very similar to that of Lesser spearwort when not in flower but can be distinguished from it by crushing the leaves which give off an aromatic scent similar to corriander.  An excellent marginal for shallower areas of smaller ponds and water features.

Height: 10 – 20cm

Planting position: Marginal plant up to 5cm deep or bog garden in full sun

Form: 9cm (0.5 litre) in solid pots or 1 litre in an aquatic basket -please select size below

Recommended basket size min./ideal: 1 litre square/2 litre round

(Recommended basket sizes are for potting up 9cm (0.5 litre) plants only as these are supplied in solid pots.  Larger sized plants are already in aquatic baskets so can go straight in the pond, however they may need potting up or splitting at some point)