Hottonia palustris
Water violet, Featherfoil
- Height × spread
- 0.5m × 1m
- Position
- Tolerates full sun, likes part shade
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Flowers
- Spring
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A intriguing aquatic that has feathery foliage that could be likened to the spaced-out needles of some form of pine trees. These foliage incidents produce four-petalled flowers that make open cups, coloured lilac or white and with a yellow heart. The flowers are held on improbably stout solid stems and are lifted out from the water, appearing in late spring or early summer. They are good oxygenators, but Hottonia is a difficult plant to establish and requires an established pond with reliably clear water. The plant may root at the water's edge or may be grown in a basket. In autumn it may produce 'turions', fleshy buds that detach themselves from the parent plant to become free moving entities that may establish themselves in a position of their choice.
- Flower colour
- White
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Prostrate
- Height
- 0.5m
- Spread
- 1m
- Season of interest
- Spring
- Flowers in
- Spring
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Water garden
- Sun or shade
- Tolerates full sun, likes part shade
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Any
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Water depth
- 15cm to 60cm
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring · Outdoors
Feed with aquatic plant food
As the plant is grown in water, feed with an aquatic feed as directed on the packet. Do not exceed the amounts given as this can affect the water.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water frequently to keep the soil moist
The plant thrives in moist or boggy soil, doesn't tolerate dryness and should be watered frequently, not only after a period of drought, but if the soil begins to dry out spring to autumn. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Planting & general
Compost · Planting
Compost for aquatic plants
Use aquatic plant compost for pond plants (other composts contain nitrates that cause problems in ponds). Pond plants are generally planted in baskets and weighted to keep in position.