Research
Water gardening at RHS Garden Wisley
Since
the early 1970s, the formal pool by the garden entrance to
the laboratory building at Wisley has been a focal point in
the garden. Together with the associated smaller pools, it
is now home to a fine collection of water lilies. Elsewhere
in the garden, a more informal style of water gardening prevails.
In Seven Acres, the lake and pond accommodate more water lilies, as well as the unrelated native Nymphoides peltata. Marginal areas are enhanced by reedmace (Typha latifolia), the blue flowers of Pontederia cordata, and some magnificent clumps of the moisture-loving royal fern, Osmunda regalis. Quite different in aspect are the so-called 'ditch beds' that run along the foot of the Rock Garden and adjacent boundary of the Wild Garden. Here is a luxuriant collection including many types of iris, primula, astilbe and other moisture-loving plants.
More information on water gardening at Wisley is available in the Garden section.
More information on care of pools is available in Advice section.
Further reading
This is just one topic covered by the Society's monthly journal for members, The Garden, and recent articles of interest are listed below. The latest thinking from the best minds in horticulture today is to be found in the RHS journal, The Plantsman: some recent relevant articles are suggested here.
Anon. 1999, November. Dangerous plant. The Garden (RHS) 124(11): 811. Hydrocotyle americana, a new alien aquatic weed.
Heritage, Bill (1994). Nymphaea cultivars: clumpers and crawlers. The New Plantsman 1(1): 57-61.
RHS Wisley Staff. 2000, April. Problem profiles: pond algae 1. The Garden (RHS) 125(3): 214-215.
RHS Wisley Staff. 2000, April. Problem profiles: pond algae 2, filters. The Garden (RHS) 125(4): 306-307.
Robinson, P 1997, April. Pooling your resources. The Garden (RHS) 122(4): 236-241.
Toogood, A 1999, March. Pooled resources. The Garden (RHS) 124(3): 186-189.
Horticultural links: aquatic plants & water gardening