Mare's Tail

Hippuris vulgaris, or Mare's Tail, is a fascinating and distinctive native British aquatic plant that serves as both an emergent marginal and an oxygenator. It produces upright, unbranched stems that look remarkably like miniature fir trees or pipe-cleaners. The portion of the stem above the water is stiff and bright green, with whorls of needle-like leaves, while the submerged portion is more flexible and translucent. It grows by spreading rhizomes in the mud and can reach heights of 30-60cm above the surface. It is an excellent plant for providing habitat for aquatic insects and is particularly favored by dragonflies as a site for laying eggs and for larvae to climb out of the water. It is extremely hardy (H7) and thrives in a range of conditions from full sun to partial shade. While it can be vigorous, it is easily controlled by planting in baskets.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Wet mud or shallow water.

Hardiness: H7 — below −20°C.

Flowering: Jun, Jul, Aug.