Callitriche stagnalis
common water starwort
- 5 × plants
- £19.99 £4.00 each
- available to order from summer
Delivery options
- Standard £5.99
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Depth of water: 15-60cm (6”-2ft)
- Rate of growth: average
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Thriving in still or slow-moving waters, this aquatic marvel, often enlisted as a trusty oxygenator for ponds, unveils spoon-shaped, bright green submerged leaves measuring up to 2cm (1”) in length. Slender stems elegantly reach the water's surface, seamlessly intertwining its roots into wet mud to create a close-knit floating mat. Despite its insignificant flowers, its contribution to the oxygenation of watery environments is impressive. A prolific native plant, it grows most actively in the cooler months (often entering dormancy in summer), making it popular with early spawning amphibians such as newts, which use the leaves to protect their eggs. Sold in bunches, with one bunch perfectly suited for a square metre of surface area, Callitriche stagnalis adds both aesthetic charm and functional benefits to your aquatic setting.
Water starwort is a versatile oxygenating plant that thrives in shallow to moderately deep water. While it can be dropped in as a weighted bunch, it establishes more reliably when planted in aquatic baskets or directly into loamy soil at the pond base, ideally at a depth of 15-60cm (6in–2ft).
Choose a sunny to partially shaded spot for best growth. Regular thinning may be needed to prevent it from spreading too vigorously and crowding out other aquatic plants. In colder areas, it may die back in winter but usually regrows in spring. Avoid disturbing established plants unless necessary, as this can reduce their effectiveness as oxygenators.
Choose a sunny to partially shaded spot for best growth. Regular thinning may be needed to prevent it from spreading too vigorously and crowding out other aquatic plants. In colder areas, it may die back in winter but usually regrows in spring. Avoid disturbing established plants unless necessary, as this can reduce their effectiveness as oxygenators.
