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Frequently Asked Pond & Water Gardening Questions (FAQ's)

Top five (5) plants for vegetable pond filter

What would you say are the top five plants that work well in a vegetable filter?

Kerry Show, Kent

Answer: The top of the pops, the plant that outperforms and outsells all others is the Norfolk reed, Phragmites australis. Not only does this hoover up pollution it oxygenates as well. Basically after that, you are after anything that grows fast and that can easily be cut down to the rootstock and disposed of, things like Cyperus longus (Sweet Galingale), Juncus effusus (Soft Rush) and Scirpus lacustris (the true bulrush). For a flora impact try the Butomus umbellatus (the flowering rush). Any of these will relish any excess nitrates and many of the other compounds in polluted water.