Willow moss (Fontinalis antipyretica) is an excellent British native oxygenating plant also good for spawning wildlife as the eggs can easily stick to the small scale-like leaves. It grows well in shade or part sun, preferring cooler water, is evergreen and provides good cover for pond wildlife, especially newts and dragon fly larvae.  It is at its best in the cooler months of the year.

Willow moss is a free floating oxygenator which like Hornwort has no roots so does not need planting.  Supplied as lead-weighted bunches as is the industry norm which allows you to ‘fix’ it in one place.  An alternative to the lead weighting is to hold it down with a stone or under a planting basket.  If you don’t want to ‘fix’ it in place just let it float and find its own depth.

Note that colour varies from bright to dark green and may have some bronze or black-ish fronds -this is quite normal and black is quite healthy.

Planting position: Depths of 15-60cm.

Form: Weighted bunches or loose