Lesser Spearwort (Ranunculus flammula)

Lesser Spearwort | Ranunculus flammula

Bright yellow native pond plant for margins, wildlife ponds, and natural ground cover

Lesser Spearwort, known botanically as Ranunculus flammula, is a charming UK native marginal pond plant that brings vibrant colour and natural character to pond edges, bog gardens, and damp areas. This low growing perennial is loved for its cheerful display of small, buttercup like yellow flowers, which appear in abundance from June right through to September.

Perfect for softening the edges of ponds, Lesser Spearwort spreads gently through creeping stems that root as they grow, forming a natural carpet of green foliage. This makes it an excellent choice for filling gaps around pond margins and creating a more established, wildlife friendly look. Its narrow, lance shaped leaves remain neat and tidy while providing valuable shelter for small pond creatures.

As well as its visual appeal, this plant plays an important role in supporting biodiversity. The bright yellow flowers are highly attractive to pollinators such as bees and hoverflies, while the dense foliage offers protection for amphibians including frogs and newts. It is particularly well suited to wildlife ponds where creating a balanced and natural ecosystem is key.

Lesser Spearwort thrives in consistently moist soil or shallow water up to around 10 cm deep, making it ideal for marginal shelves or damp borders. It performs best in full sun but will also tolerate partial shade, giving flexibility in planting schemes.

One of the biggest advantages of this plant is its reliability. It is extremely hardy in UK conditions and will return year after year with minimal effort. Whether you are planting a small garden pond or a larger natural water feature, this is a dependable, easy to grow option that delivers both beauty and ecological value.

🇬🇧 UK-grown aquatic plant: Grown at a dedicated aquatic plant nursery in the South of England and carefully prepared for delivery across the UK.

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Key Benefits

• Bright yellow flowers from early summer to autumn
• Excellent for pollinators and wildlife ponds
• Provides ground cover around pond edges
• UK native species ideal for natural planting
• Hardy and reliable in all UK conditions
• Helps create a balanced aquatic ecosystem

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Reasons to Buy

• Perfect for softening pond margins
• Great for wildlife friendly planting schemes
• Long flowering period for extended colour
• Easy to grow and low maintenance
• Ideal for small and medium sized ponds

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Care Instructions

• Plant on a marginal shelf or in consistently moist soil at a depth of 0 cm to 10 cm.
• Position in full sun for best flowering, although partial shade is tolerated.
• Allow space for the plant to spread naturally across the pond edge.
• Trim back after flowering to encourage fresh growth and maintain shape.
• Divide clumps every few years to keep the plant healthy and controlled.
• Wear gloves when handling as sap may irritate skin.

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Flowering Period

June to September

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Size and Growing Conditions

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Dispatching Your Pond Plants

Your Lesser Spearwort will be carefully packed to protect the foliage and roots during transit.

Orders received by 11am Monday to Wednesday are normally dispatched on the following working day using a next working day courier service. During busy periods, dispatch may occasionally take an extra day.

To avoid plants being held in depots over a weekend, we do not usually dispatch on Fridays. Highlands and Islands orders using a two day service are not normally dispatched on Thursdays.

Available basket sizes:

• Pack of 3 × 9cm Pots
• 1 Litre Basket – usually 11 × 11 × 11cm square; some varieties may be supplied in a 14cm diameter × 10cm round basket
• Pack of 3 × 1 Litre Baskets – each usually 11 × 11 × 11cm square
• 3 Litre Hexagonal Basket – 18 × 18 × 16cm

Planting depth is measured from the top of the aquatic basket to the water surface.

Plants supplied in 9cm pots require potting into suitable aquatic baskets before being placed in the pond.

Finofil baskets are manufactured in the UK from 100% recycled plastic and are fully recyclable. Their fine dual-mesh construction helps retain aquatic soil while allowing water and nutrients to reach the roots. Basket shape may vary slightly depending on the plant and supplier availability.

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Similar pond plants

For another pond-edge planting option, compare Greater Spearwort (Ranunculus lingua ‘Grandiflorus’) and Lesser Water Plantain (Baldellia ranunculoides). Explore the Ranunculus pond plant group to compare the whole collection.

Explore more marginal pond plants or browse our complete pond plants range. Need baskets, aquatic soil or planting essentials? Browse our pond plant baskets and aquatic planting supplies.