Marsilea quadrifolia

RHS Plant Profile
European water clover

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European water clover Dorling Kindersley 2003

Synonyms

Marsilea quadrifoliata

Ferns Aquatic
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A spreading, herbaceous perennial usually grown in shallow water, with dark green leaves 2-3cm across, formed of 4 triangular leaflets

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Loam
Moisture
Poorly–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Marsileaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Matforming, Floating
Genus
Marsilea can be aquatic, marginal or terrestrial, rhizomatous ferns forming mats of clover-like leaves with 4 fan-shaped leaflets
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
E Europe-China/Japan

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in muddy pool margins or in lattice baskets filled with loamy soil at a depth of no more than 15cm in full sun. See pond plants for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by division of rhizomes in summer; peg down in shallow water

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Ground cover

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free