Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)

Marsh Marigold | Caltha palustris

Bright early spring pond plant with golden flowers and vital wildlife benefits

Marsh Marigold, also known as Caltha palustris or King Cup, is one of the most recognisable and rewarding UK native pond plants. Known for its vibrant golden yellow, cup shaped flowers, it is among the first aquatic plants to bloom each year, bringing a welcome burst of colour to ponds, bog gardens, and wetland areas from as early as March through to May.

This early flowering period makes Marsh Marigold particularly valuable in a wildlife pond. At a time when little else is in bloom, it provides both visual interest and essential habitat. Its dense clumps of rich green, rounded leaves offer crucial shelter for spawning amphibians such as frogs and newts, while also providing protection for early aquatic life.

Growing naturally along pond edges and in damp ground, Marsh Marigold thrives in shallow water and consistently moist soils. It is ideally suited to marginal shelves, where the basket sits just below the waterline, or planted into boggy soil around the pond perimeter. Its compact yet lush growth habit ensures it blends beautifully with other pond plants without overwhelming the space.

As a UK native species, Marsh Marigold is perfectly adapted to local conditions. It is fully hardy and capable of withstanding cold winters, returning year after year with minimal effort. It performs best in full sun, where flowering is most prolific, but will also tolerate partial shade.

In addition to its ecological benefits, Marsh Marigold is a fantastic design plant. Its glossy foliage creates a strong contrast with its bright flowers, helping to soften pond edges and create a natural, established look. It pairs exceptionally well with other early season plants and later flowering marginals to provide continuous interest throughout the year.

Whether you are creating a wildlife pond, enhancing an existing water feature, or simply looking for a reliable early flowering marginal plant, Marsh Marigold is an essential addition that combines beauty, function, and biodiversity.

🇬🇧 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

• Early spring flowering for instant seasonal colour
• Bright golden yellow flowers stand out around the pond
• Provides shelter for spawning amphibians
• UK native plant supporting biodiversity
• Hardy and reliable in all UK conditions
• Ideal for pond margins and boggy areas

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Reasons to Buy

• One of the best early flowering pond plants available
• Perfect for wildlife friendly ponds
• Easy to grow and very low maintenance
• Adds natural structure and colour to pond edges
• Returns year after year with minimal care

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Care Instructions

• Plant on a marginal shelf in shallow water or in damp soil around the pond edge.
• Position in full sun for the best flowering display, although partial shade is tolerated.
• Keep the basket just below the water surface for optimal growth.
• After flowering, cut back foliage to maintain a tidy appearance and encourage fresh growth.
• Divide clumps every few years in early spring to maintain vigour and prevent overcrowding.

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Flowering Period

March to May

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Size and Growing Conditions

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Dispatching Your Pond Plants

Your Marsh Marigold 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
• 5 Litre Square Basket – 24 × 24 × 14cm

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 Giant King Cup (Caltha palustris ‘Polypetala’) and Marsh St John’s Wort (Hypericum elodes). Explore the Caltha 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.