Marsilea mutica

RHS Plant Profile

Australian water clover

Other common names

smooth nardoo

Aquatic Ferns

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
1 Suppliers

Slowly spreading aquatic perennial fern, usually grown in shallow water. Glossy, dark green leaves, with pale green central marbling patterns are 2-3cm across, formed of 4 triangular leaflets that float on the water surface on long stalks

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam

Moisture: Poorly–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–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: Spreading branched, 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: Australia, New Caledonia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in rich soil, 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