Water parsley (Oenanthe sarmentosa) with floating ring

Perennial | Edible | Surface Cover | Pond Plant

Water Parsley (Oenanthe sarmentosa) is a beautiful and useful edible pond plant with delicate foliage, small white flowers and a naturally spreading growth habit. It is an excellent choice for adding greenery and surface cover to ponds, water bowls and water gardens.

When grown in our floating pond plant ring, Water Parsley spreads across the water's surface, creating a lush green mat. This makes it particularly useful for providing cover and softening the appearance of open areas of water.

Water Parsley grows well in full sun to part shade and can tolerate shallow water between approximately 5–15cm deep. Its foliage grows above the water line, creating a lovely natural transition between the pond and surrounding garden.

Why Grow Water Parsley in Your Pond?

Water Parsley is a great choice for anyone wanting to combine edible plants with a beautiful water garden.

Its delicate foliage and small white flowers add texture and interest, while its spreading habit can provide excellent surface cover when grown in a floating pond plant ring.

The foliage can also be harvested for use in the kitchen. Water Parsley has a parsley-like flavour and can be used fresh in salads, as a garnish or to make herbal tea.

Water Parsley Pond Plant Features

• Botanical name: Oenanthe sarmentosa
• Common name: Water Parsley
• Plant type: Perennial
• Origin: California and Alaska
• Position: Full sun to part shade
• Flowers: Small white flowers
• Water depth: Approximately 5–15cm
• Foliage: Grows above the water line
• Height: Up to approximately 20cm
• Width: Up to approximately 40cm
• Edible: Yes
• Oxygenator: No
• Cover: Excellent surface cover when grown in a floating pond plant ring
• Best suited to: Ponds, water bowls, shallow water and edible water gardens

Growing Water Parsley

Water Parsley is a spreading pond plant that enjoys consistently moist conditions and can be grown in shallow water.

For an easy way to add it to your pond, place it into a floating pond plant ring. As it grows, the plant can spread out across the surface, creating an attractive mat of foliage.

This spreading growth habit makes Water Parsley particularly useful for covering sections of open water and creating a more natural-looking pond environment.

It can also be planted around the pond margin or in shallow water, where its foliage will grow above the surface.

Position

Water Parsley grows well in full sun to part shade.

A sunny position will encourage strong growth, while part shade is also suitable. When grown in a floating pond plant ring, make sure the plant has access to plenty of light so it can develop healthy, dense foliage.

Water Parsley as Surface Cover

One of the most useful features of Water Parsley is its ability to provide surface cover.

When grown in a floating pond plant ring, its stems spread across the water and create a lush layer of foliage. This is a great way to break up large areas of open water and add another layer of planting to your pond.

Surface-covering plants can also help create a more natural and sheltered environment for pond life.

For the best result, combine Water Parsley with taller marginal plants and flowering pond plants to create different levels of planting around your water garden.

An Edible Pond Plant

Water Parsley is an edible pond plant and can be used in the kitchen in a similar way to other leafy herbs.

The fresh leaves can be used in salads, as a garnish or added to dishes for extra flavour. The leaves can also be used fresh or dried to make a herbal tea.

Water Parsley contains naturally occurring vitamins, antioxidants and plant compounds, making it an interesting addition to an edible water garden.

As with any edible plant, only consume plants that have been grown in suitable conditions and have not been treated with products unsuitable for edible plants.

Water Parsley Flowers

Water Parsley produces small white flowers that add a delicate touch to the foliage.

The flowers are relatively subtle, allowing the attractive green foliage and spreading habit of the plant to remain the main feature.

For a more colourful display, combine Water Parsley with flowering pond plants to create contrast and additional seasonal interest.

Is Water Parsley an Oxygenating Plant?

No. Water Parsley is not an oxygenating pond plant.

It is primarily useful for its edible foliage, spreading growth habit and ability to provide surface cover.

For a balanced pond planting scheme, combine Water Parsley with dedicated oxygenating plants, marginal plants and flowering pond plants.

A simple way to plan your pond planting is to follow the 3-2-1 rule: 3 oxygenating plants, 2 marginal plants and 1 flowering plant per square metre.

Planting Water Parsley in Your Water Garden

Water Parsley is ideal for:

• Pond margins
• Shallow water
• Floating pond plant rings
• Water bowls
• Edible water gardens
• Natural-style ponds
• Small ponds and container water gardens

Its spreading habit makes it particularly useful where you want to add greenery across the surface of your pond without relying solely on floating plants.

Feeding Water Parsley

For healthy, vigorous growth, Water Parsley benefits from a nutrient-rich growing environment.

A suitable slow-release aquatic fertiliser tablet can be added during the growing season. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for application rate and frequency.

Add Water Parsley to your pond for delicate foliage, edible leaves, small white flowers and beautiful natural surface cover.