Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) with floating ring

Perennial | Edible | Low Growing | Spreading

Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) is a fascinating low-growing perennial herb that makes a beautiful addition to ponds, water bowls and boggy areas. Its distinctive round, kidney-shaped leaves and spreading growth habit create a lush green carpet around the water's edge or across the surface of your pond.

Best of all, Gotu Kola can be grown in our floating pond plant ring, where its stems spread out across the water and develop roots at the nodes. Over time, this creates a dense, natural-looking mat of foliage that provides cover around the pond.

Why Grow Gotu Kola in Your Pond?

Gotu Kola is an excellent choice when you're looking for a pond plant that provides low-growing cover and a lush, natural appearance.

Its trailing stems spread readily, with roots forming at the nodes as they come into contact with water. When grown in a floating pond plant ring, this allows the plant to gradually spread across the water's surface, creating an attractive green mat.

The rounded, fan or kidney-shaped leaves add a different texture to your water garden and work particularly well alongside taller marginal pond plants.

Gotu Kola is also an edible herb, making it an interesting addition to an edible water garden.

Gotu Kola Pond Plant Features

• Botanical name: Centella asiatica
• Common name: Gotu Kola
• Plant type: Perennial herbaceous plant
• Height: Approximately 15–30cm
• Position: Part shade to full sun
• Water depth: Up to approximately 3cm
• Growth habit: Low growing and spreading
• Edible: Yes
• Oxygenator: No
• Cover: Excellent low-growing cover when allowed to spread
• Best suited to: Pond margins, shallow water, boggy areas and floating pond plant rings

Growing Gotu Kola in Your Pond

Gotu Kola naturally enjoys moist and wet environments, making it well suited to life around your pond.

For the easiest way to add it to your water garden, place the plant into a floating pond plant ring. The ring keeps the plant positioned at the ideal level while allowing the stems to spread naturally across the water.

As it grows, Gotu Kola sends out runners and develops roots from the nodes along the stems. This spreading habit allows it to form a dense mat of foliage, providing attractive cover on and around the water.

It can also be planted in very shallow water up to approximately 3cm deep or in consistently moist, boggy areas around the pond.

Position

Gotu Kola will grow in part shade through to full sun.

A position with some protection from the hottest afternoon sun can help maintain lush foliage, particularly in warmer conditions, while plants grown in full sun should have consistent access to moisture.

Is Gotu Kola an Oxygenating Plant?

No. Gotu Kola is not an oxygenating pond plant.

Instead, its value comes from its attractive foliage, spreading growth habit and ability to provide low-growing cover around the pond.

For a balanced water garden, combine Gotu Kola with dedicated oxygenating plants as well as taller marginal and flowering pond plants.

An Edible Pond Plant

Gotu Kola has a long history of use as an edible herb and in traditional Asian cuisine. The leaves are sometimes eaten fresh in salads or used as a leafy green.

The flavour is generally mild with a slightly bitter taste.

While Gotu Kola has also been traditionally used for a variety of purposes, this product is supplied as an ornamental and edible pond plant. Anyone considering Gotu Kola for medicinal use should seek appropriate professional advice, particularly if taking medication or managing an existing health condition.

Create a Natural Pond Habitat

Allowing Gotu Kola to spread across the surface creates a dense layer of vegetation that can provide shelter and cover around your pond.

Its low-growing habit makes it particularly useful for softening the edges of water bowls and smaller ponds, while the trailing foliage creates a more natural transition between the water and surrounding garden.

It also makes a great contrast when planted alongside upright pond plants that provide height and structure.

Feeding Gotu Kola

Gotu Kola benefits from a nutrient-rich growing environment.

For healthy growth, consider adding a slow-release aquatic fertiliser tablet during the growing season. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for application rate and frequency.

Gotu Kola for Water Bowls and Small Ponds

Gotu Kola is particularly well suited to small ponds, water bowls and container water gardens where its spreading habit can be appreciated up close.

Growing it in a floating pond plant ring makes it easy to position the plant at the water's surface and allows its trailing stems to spread naturally.

Pair it with taller plants for height and structure, flowering pond plants for colour and oxygenating plants to help create a balanced water garden.

Add Gotu Kola to your pond for lush green cover, distinctive foliage and a natural spreading habit.