Water Ribbon (Triglochin procera ) Pond Plant with Floating Ring

Australian Native | Perennial | Edible Bush Food | Frog Habitat | Shallow Water Plant

Bring a beautiful Australian native to your water garden with Water Ribbon, also known as Arrow Grass. With its long, strappy leaves and spreading growth habit, this hardy aquatic plant is an excellent choice for shallow pond margins, boggy areas and mass planting.

Water Ribbon provides valuable habitat and shelter for native frogs while its flowers can help attract beneficial insects to your pond. It is also an edible Australian bush food, with the tubers, lower parts of the stems and fruit traditionally used as food.

Whether you're creating a wildlife-friendly frog pond, establishing a natural-looking pond margin or looking for an Australian native to plant en masse, Water Ribbon is a versatile addition to the water garden.

Why Grow Water Ribbon in Your Pond?

Water Ribbon combines attractive foliage with valuable habitat benefits, making it an excellent choice for a natural Australian water garden.

• Australian native aquatic plant
• Provides shelter and cover for frogs
• Attracts beneficial insects to the pond
• Long, strappy foliage creates a natural spreading effect
• Excellent for mass planting
• Suited to boggy areas and shallow pond margins
• Can grow submerged to approximately 20cm
• Produces tall flower spikes with small creamy white flowers
• Edible Australian bush food

Water Ribbon Pond Plant Features

• Botanical name: Triglochin procera
• Common name: Water Ribbon
• Also known as: Arrow Grass
• Plant type: Aquatic perennial
• Origin: Australia
• Position: Part shade to full sun
• Flowers: Tall spikes with small creamy white flowers
• Water depth: Up to 20cm
• Height: Approximately 30–60cm
• Foliage: Long, strappy leaves with a spreading habit
• Cover: Excellent shelter and cover for frogs
• Edible: Yes
• Best suited to: Shallow pond margins, boggy areas and mass planting

Growing Water Ribbon

Water Ribbon is a hardy Australian native that naturally suits wet environments. It can be planted into shallow water or into consistently moist, boggy soil around the pond.

It can tolerate being submerged to approximately 20cm, making it suitable for a range of shallow pond locations.

Allow enough room for the plant to develop its spreading habit. Water Ribbon is particularly effective when planted in groups, where the long foliage creates a lush, natural appearance around the water's edge.

Position

Water Ribbon grows well in part shade to full sun.

A sunny position will encourage strong growth and flowering, while part shade is also suitable. Its adaptability makes it useful for ponds with varying levels of sunlight throughout the day.

Water Ribbon Foliage

One of the most attractive features of Water Ribbon is its long, strappy foliage.

The leaves have a spreading habit and can reach approximately 30–60cm in height, creating movement and texture around the pond margin.

Plant several together to create a natural mass of foliage, or combine Water Ribbon with other Australian native grasses, rushes and marginal plants for a layered wildlife habitat.

Water Ribbon Flowers

Water Ribbon produces tall flower spikes carrying small creamy white flowers.

The delicate flowers add another layer of interest above the foliage and can attract beneficial insects to the pond environment.

For the best flowering performance, position the plant where it receives plenty of sunlight.

A Great Plant for Frog Habitat

Water Ribbon is an excellent choice for a frog-friendly pond.

Its spreading foliage provides shelter and cover around the water's edge, giving frogs places to hide and move through the vegetation.

Creating a mixture of plants with different heights, textures and growth habits is a great way to provide a more diverse habitat. Combine Water Ribbon with native rushes, grasses, groundcovers and other marginal plants to create a natural transition from water to garden.

An Australian Native Bush Food

Water Ribbon is also an edible Australian native plant.

The tubers, lower parts of the stem and fruit have been used as bush foods. If growing Water Ribbon specifically as an edible plant, ensure you are confident in the correct identification and appropriate preparation before consuming any part of the plant.

Mass Planting in Boggy Areas

Water Ribbon is particularly effective when planted en masse.

Its spreading foliage can create a lush, natural effect across larger pond margins, bog gardens and other consistently wet areas. Mass planting also increases the amount of habitat available to frogs and other small wildlife.

For a natural Australian water garden, combine Water Ribbon with a selection of native rushes, sedges and flowering marginal plants.

Planting Water Ribbon in Your Water Garden

Choose a position in shallow water or a permanently moist area around the pond.

• Plant in shallow water up to approximately 20cm deep
• Alternatively, plant into boggy, consistently moist soil
• Position in part shade to full sun
• Allow room for the foliage to spread
• Mass plant for the best natural effect
• Combine with other native pond plants to increase habitat diversity

Feeding Water Ribbon

For vigorous growth, feed during the active growing season with a suitable slow-release aquatic plant fertiliser.

Insert the fertiliser into the planting medium according to the manufacturer's instructions, avoiding direct contact with the plant's crown.

Create a Native Wildlife Pond

Water Ribbon is a fantastic choice if you're looking to create a more natural, wildlife-friendly Australian pond.

Its combination of native habitat, spreading foliage, delicate flowers and edible bush-food qualities makes it much more than just an attractive marginal plant.

Plant Water Ribbon around your pond margin or through a boggy area and create a lush habitat that provides shelter for frogs while adding authentic Australian character to your water garden.