Parrot’s featheris a versatile plant for ponds andwater gardens.
It earned its moniker from its dense plumes of fine-texture foliage.
Grow it underwater to oxygenate water, provide fish a place to hide, and reduce on algae.
Or let parrots feather float on the water to provide shade.
Parrots feather has both submerged and emergent foliage.
The emergent stems will root near the shoreline via rhizomes.
It grows equally well in ponds andcontainer water gardens.
It can reproduce rapidly in natural areas, clogging waterways and crowding out native species.
The less sun it gets, the slower it grows and the less efficiently it improves water quality.
Soil and Water
Plant its delicate rhizomes in heavy loam in pond bottoms or water garden containers.
It will quickly root and begin to spread.
Fertilizer
Parrot’s feather does not require any fertilization.
Manage the number of floating plants by lifting out new plants and discarding them.
Use a perforated plastic pot designed for water gardens.
Plant the rhizomes in heavy loam soildo not use potting mix.
Place the pot in the water garden so that the plants float freely on the surface.
Pests and Problems
Parrot’s feather is a relatively pest- and disease-free plant.
Note that dieback is normal after frost.
Only female plants are known to grow in North America so they will not produce seed.
It features a red stem that contrasts nicely with the fine green foliage.
This variety is a favorite plant in the aquarium trade.
Many varieties have a lovely fragrance, too.
produces large, striking, peony-like flowers throughout the summer.
The blooms appear in a number of colors and are a perfect accent to its gorgeous blue-green leaves.
The tall stems create a decidedly tropical look.
The plant can survive and reproduce in any shallow, moist depression such as roadside ditches.
It also provides a good habitat for mosquito larvae.
