Water Hawthorn - leaves going black?

[Tobyh]

Hi all,

Recently (6 weeks ago) build my wildlife pond and am really happy apart from this one niggling issue - the leaves on my water hawthorn are developing black spots which seem to spread. After rain recently the worst affect leaves now appear to have broken up / gone transparent.

Anyone got any ideas please?

Other than this the pond is extremely healthy.

Thanks

TobyH

[Kayleigh]

Cant help you sorry mine just died no idea why....

[The Woodman]

I've never heard of Water Hawthorn, can you give me any clues as to what it is, please?

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

I've never heard of Water Hawthorn, can you give me any clues as to what it is, please?

Its a deep water aquatic plant very pretty and smells lovely..

BBC - Gardening: Plant Finder - Water hawthorn

[Tobyh]

Thanks Kayleigh,

Must slap myself. I thought I'd got all native plants


TobyH

[The Woodman]

Thanks Kayleigh, another foreigner potentially waiting to invade our waterways!

It's a new species to me, didn't think it was a native plant.

[galanthus]

Apparently though, it is naturalised in the uk, however, I too thought native. Hoverflies etc love it. The leaves die off after a certain amount of time but new ones are formed. Very hardy plant and mine has seen a fair amount of snow and ice but still flowered every year. Self-seeds quite prolifically. Lovely plant, one of my faves in the pond. Currently have a few froglets sitting on the odd leaf

[mrcryptic]

Water Hawthorn (Aponogeton distachyus) is a native plant. Elongated, spear shaped leaves develop from a submerged tuber, and are mid green, spear shaped, and are mid green, often deloping burgundy coloured blotches with age. The snowy white flowers have a sweet hawthorne like perfume.Leaves lie on water surface with the flowers standing a few inches proud (like a lily). Its a fantastic plant for the pond and will grow in quite deep water. I have mine in a hessian bag type container so can put some of the solid fertiliser tabs. the leaves do go disscoloured on mine sometimes, but eventualy recover. Water hawthorn is easy to care for. Plant the bulbs an inch or so deep in heavy clay top soil. Fertilize monthly when in active growth. Once the plant begins to slow down as the weather gets warmer, stop fertilizing until you see new growth in the fall.
Water hawthorn is a prolific seeder and you may find baby plants springing up in your other water plants.
My favourite pond plant.

[Fauna]

Originally Posted by mrcryptic

Water Hawthorn (Aponogeton distachyus) is a native plant.

I was unaware Cape Pondweed was native to Britain, i was lead to believe it was from South Africa.

[Dutchess]

Originally Posted by Fauna

I was unaware Cape Pondweed was native to Britain, i was lead to believe it was from South Africa.

That's what it says on the BBC link given above...

Also says it's a tender plant, may need bringing in to overwinter.

D.