Plant spatterdock from a rhizome in a large mesh pond basket of heavy loam, with the growing tip above the mud. Split a crowded rhizome in spring if you want more plants.
Plant the rhizome in a large pond basket, growing tip up
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Spring, once the pond is warming | Do not plant into a frozen shelf |
| Basket | A large mesh aquatic basket that holds the thick rhizome | Do not plant it loose in a small liner if you need to contain the run |
| Mix | Heavy loam or pond mud, topped with washed gravel | Do not use lightweight potting mix, which floats and clouds the water |
| Depth | Set the basket in about 1 to 3 feet of water, with the growing tip above the mud | Do not bury the growing tip under the mud |
Spatterdock goes in as a rhizome or a potted plant, not as a dry-bed transplant. For a water garden, plant it in a large mesh basket so the rhizomes cannot take the whole pond. Plant straight into mud only if you want a colony you can live with. [1] Fill the basket with heavy loam or pond mud. Lay the rhizome at a slight angle, about 45 degrees, with the growing tip out of the soil and the cut end under a little mix so it stays put. [2] The crown, where leaves and roots meet, stays above the mud. Cover the rest of the rhizome, then add washed gravel so the soil does not wash out when you lower the basket. [3] Set it in about 1 to 3 feet of still water so new leaves can reach the air. Handle the leaf stalks gently; they snap if you fold them. The sun and still-water plan for the season is on How to Grow Spatterdock.
- Keep the rhizome wet from the shop to the pond. Do not let it dry on a bench.
- Fill a large mesh pond basket with heavy loam or pond mud.
- Set the rhizome at a slight angle, growing tip above the mud, and cover the cut end.
- Top with washed gravel and lower the basket into about 1 to 3 feet of still water.
How deep do I plant the rhizome?
Keep the growing tip above the mud and set the basket in about 1 to 3 feet of water so the first leaves can reach the air.
Split a crowded rhizome in spring
Division is how this plant multiplies in a garden. In May, lift a crowded clump, keep a growing eye on each piece, and replant at once in a fresh basket of heavy loam. [4] Submerge the new baskets in shallow water until they hold, then move them to the same depth you used at planting.
- Lift a crowded clump in spring so you can see the rhizomes.
- Cut a piece that has at least one growing eye and some roots.
- Replant at once in a fresh basket of heavy loam, growing tip up, and keep the rhizome wet while it takes.
- Start the new basket in shallow water, then set it in about 1 to 3 feet once the leaves reach the surface.
How do I get more plants?
Split a crowded rhizome in spring. Keep a growing eye on each piece and replant the same day so it does not dry.
If the first leaves stay underwater and rot, the growing tip was buried. Reset the rhizome with the tip above the mud and start it in about 1 to 3 feet of water.
FAQ
Can I grow it from seed?
Not as the usual home method. Seed needs to stay under water for about two years before it is strong enough for the pond. Split a rhizome instead.
Can I plant it straight into the pond mud?
Yes, on a large wet shelf, if you want a colony. In a small liner, use a mesh basket so the rhizomes cannot take the whole pond.
Can I leave it floating with no basket?
A broken rhizome may root in still water, but a water garden stays cleaner if the clump sits in a basket of heavy loam.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center -
https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_nulu.pdf - [2] Wetland Plants Inc -
https://www.wetlandplantsinc.com/learn-more/planting-in-water-more-than-6-deep - [3] Pond Informer -
https://pondinformer.com/common-spatterdock-nuphar-advena/ - [4] Plants For A Future -
https://pfaf.org/USER/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Nuphar+advena
This note is part of Nuphar Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors