Water Chestnut | Trapa natans
Unique plant with red-tinged foliage, toothed leaves, and attractive surface growth.
Normally Available From: April
Water Chestnut is a distinctive floating pond plant featuring rosettes of toothed, red-tinged leaves and dark green, waxy foliage that provides shade, cover for wildlife, and shelter for small fish and other wildlife. A small white flower appears in late summer, and the plant helps control algae in your pond by shading the water surface and absorbing excess nutrients.
Water Chestnut reproduces by forming nuts that sink to the bottom of the pond in autumn. In warm summers, these nuts will overwinter and produce new plants the following year.
Early Season Note: These pond plants are supplied as nuts early in the season, sprouting as the water warms. Simply pop the nuts into the pond, and the plants will emerge over time.
Key Characteristics:
- Height: 0cm to 5cm - floating leaves and flowers
- Spread: 10cm to 20cm
- Growth: Medium
- Foliage: Rosettes of toothed, red-tinged leaves.
- Growth Habit: Free-floating, spreading
Additional Information:
- Common Name: Water Chestnut
- Position: Full Sun/Part Shade
- Flowering Period: August to September
- Hardiness: Outdoors in summer; tolerates 10°C to 15°C. (H1b)
Loved by Amphibians 🐸
Please note our dates are subject to change as conditions may mean that our plants are not quite ready for you
Your Plant At Arrival
Your floating plants will arrive in a tub or bag, ready to be popped straight into you pond upon arrival!
Each pack contains 5 plants.
How to Grow
- Growing Instructions:
- Growing Tips:
Care & Maintenance
- Pruning: Thin out as necessary to prevent overcrowding and maintain healthy growth. Avoid letting plants dominate the pond, as this can reduce light and oxygen levels for other pond life. Regularly remove any yellowing or decaying leaves to keep the water clean and clear.
- Pests/Diseases: Generally resilient, but water snails may occasionally damage leaves, and fungal rot can arise in poorly aerated water.
Floating Plants - Good to Know
Why Are Floating Plants So Important?
Floating plants are vital for a healthy pond. Their floating leaves provide shade, reducing sunlight penetration, which helps to control algae and keep the water cooler. They also absorb excess nutrients like nitrates, preventing algae blooms and improving water clarity.
Floating plants create shelter for fish, amphibians, and pond insects, providing a safe space for spawning, resting, and hiding. By contributing to the overall balance of your pond ecosystem, they play a key role in supporting biodiversity.
What is the Difference Between Floating Plants and Deep-Water Plants or Waterlilies?
Floating plants sit on the water’s surface, offering shade and absorbing nutrients directly from the water through their roots, unlike deep-water plants that anchor to the substrate. Their fast-growing foliage spreads across the surface, helping to control algae and providing cover for pond life.
They pair well with waterlilies, which provide larger, longer-lasting shade, and deep-water plants, which oxygenate and anchor the ecosystem. Together, these plants create a balanced and diverse pond environment.
Is It Just as Easy as Placing Them on the Surface?
Yes! Floating plants are among the easiest pond plants to care for. Simply place them on the water’s surface, and they’ll settle naturally. Tender varieties may require overwintering indoors in frost-free conditions, so check the product description for specific care instructions.
How Many Floating Plants Do I Need?
We recommend 1-3 floating plants per square metre of your pond’s surface area as part of your total coverage. Ideally, two-thirds of your pond should be shaded during high summer to keep the water cool, reduce algae, and provide shelter for pond life.
This coverage can be a mix of floating plants, deep-water plants, and waterlilies to support biodiversity. For example, in a 6sqm pond, aim for around 4sqm of coverage - such as 2sqm of waterlilies, 1sqm of deep-water plants, and 1sqm of floating plants.
Can I Mix Varieties of Floating Plants in My Pond?
Yes, mixing floating plant varieties is a great way to enhance your pond’s health and appearance. Combining different species increases shade, texture, and biodiversity. Be sure to spread them out to allow each variety space to grow. In smaller ponds, one type may eventually dominate, which is natural and depends on pond conditions.
Will Carp or Ducks Eat My Bunched Oxygenators?
Carp (including Koi): Carp enjoy eating floating plants, so consider protecting them with barriers if you have these fish.
Goldfish: Goldfish may nibble on floating plants but usually cause minimal damage. They’re more likely to feed on insects and larvae found in the pond.
Wildfowl: Ducks and other birds may eat floating plants or damage them while foraging. Keeping plants in deeper areas of the pond can help reduce their impact.
Shipping & Delivery
Delivery Prices
Mainland UK
Standard delivery: £6.00
Large plants (e.g., 30ltr waterlilies): pallet delivery - quote required.
Soil & gravel: additional charges apply for multiple bags.
Please email us with your postcode if a delivery price is not displaying at checkout
Highlands & Islands
Small parcels under 1.8kg: £6.00
Standard parcels over 1.8kg: £25.00
All H&I deliveries use 48-hour services
If you’re unsure about delivery costs to your postcode, please email us at.
Container Ponds
Delivery from £30 (postcode-based, please check before ordering)
Shipping to Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Europe
Sorry, we are unable to ship to the above destinations.
Dispatch Schedule
Aquatic Plants
March: Monday and Thursday
April – August: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Late August to October: Monday and Thursday
October – February: Tuesday only
Aquatic plants are dispatched all year round, though frequency reduces during low season.
Garden Plants
Dispatched all year round - Tuesday & Thursday
Are plants dispatched the same day as ordering?
No. Live plants require draining and careful preparation. The nurseries dispatch in scheduled batches rather than on-demand. This means same-day dispatch isn’t possible, but we always aim to send your order as promptly as we can within our dispatch schedule.
If you’d like to check when your order is likely to arrive, just email us and we’ll be happy to advise.
Delivery and Couriers
We use trusted UK couriers:
APC and Royal Mail for pond plants
DX for garden plants
Pallet deliveries for 30ltr waterlilies, large landscape orders and container ponds
Delivery Times
APC and DX orders are sent on overnight services but may take up to 48 hours depending on your local depot.
Royal Mail parcels usually arrive within 24–48 hours.
Plants are packed in damp soil and remain safe in transit for several days.
Tracking and Safe Place Instructions
Your dispatch email will contain tracking information where applicable.
Couriers are instructed to leave parcels in a safe place with no signature required. You can add your own delivery notes using the links below. We recommend requesting a cool, shaded spot so the plants stay fresh on arrival.
APC - https://apcchoice.apc-overnight.com/
Royal Mail - will use your email and mobile number provided during ordering to send delivery updates and enable you to add safe-place instructions.
Please do not delay delivery of live plants.
Royal Mail will never ask you to make an additional payment for a delivery. If you receive a message requesting payment, please delete it and do not click any links. If you are unsure whether a message is genuine, email us and we’ll be happy to advise
Damages & Returns
If your order arrives damaged, please take photos of the packaging and plants and email us with your PFP order number.
Due to bio-security and the perishable nature of plants, we cannot accept returns of plants or molluscs.
Container ponds are handmade to order and non-returnable unless damaged.
For full details, please see our returns policy
Need Help?
If you have any questions about delivery or dispatch times, please email us
Plants Delivered with Care Across the UK
Based in Hertfordshire, we ship plants across the UK, ensuring they reach you in tip-top condition to enhance your pond with vibrant, healthy greenery. Supporting a small, local business like ours means getting a personal touch – no big teams, no call centres, just real, knowledgeable help from people who care.
