Star Grass (Rhynchospora colorata, syn. Dichromena colorata)

Star Grass | Rhynchospora colorata, syn. Dichromena colorata

Elegant marginal pond plant with striking white star shaped flowers and graceful grass like foliage

Star Grass, scientifically known as Rhynchospora colorata, syn. Dichromena colorata, is a unique and eye catching marginal pond plant loved for its elegant white star shaped bracts that rise delicately above fine grass like foliage. Flowering from mid summer well into autumn, this unusual perennial creates a striking display around pond margins and bog gardens, adding texture, movement, and late season interest when many other pond plants are beginning to fade.

Often admired for its architectural appearance, Star Grass produces slender upright stems topped with brilliant white star like bracts that almost appear to glow in sunlight. These distinctive flowers float gracefully above the fresh green foliage, creating a soft and airy appearance that works beautifully in both contemporary and naturalistic water garden settings.

Perfect for shallow pond shelves, bog gardens, and damp borders, Rhynchospora colorata, syn. Dichromena colorata thrives in moist to wet conditions where it can enjoy consistent moisture throughout the growing season. Its neat clump forming habit makes it especially useful in smaller ponds, container ponds, and decorative water features where more vigorous marginal plants could become overpowering.

One of the standout features of Star Grass is its exceptionally long flowering period. Blooming from July through to November, it continues adding brightness and structure long after many summer flowering marginals have finished. This extended flowering season makes it highly valuable for maintaining colour and visual interest around ponds later in the year.

The fine textured foliage contrasts beautifully with broader leaved aquatic plants such as water forget me not, creeping Jenny, and floating waterlilies. It is also excellent for softening stone edging, gravel margins, and formal pond lines while still maintaining a refined and elegant appearance.

Although graceful in appearance, Star Grass is relatively easy to grow when planted in the correct conditions. It prefers shallow water or consistently damp soil in full sun or partial shade. In colder UK regions it may benefit from some winter protection, particularly during prolonged freezing weather, as it is best suited to milder areas of the country.

Because of its compact size and slow growing nature, this plant is easy to manage and requires very little maintenance once established. It is also beneficial to wildlife ponds, providing gentle cover for insects, amphibians, and small pond creatures.

For anyone looking to add something slightly unusual and highly decorative to their pond planting scheme, Star Grass is an outstanding choice that combines elegant foliage with truly distinctive flowers.

🇬🇧 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

• Unique white star shaped flower bracts
• Long flowering season from summer into autumn
• Ideal for pond margins and bog gardens
• Elegant grass like foliage adds texture and movement
• Excellent for smaller ponds and container ponds
• Softens formal pond edges naturally
• Wildlife and amphibian friendly planting choice
• Compact and easy to maintain

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Reasons to Buy

• Unusual and eye catching marginal pond plant
• Adds late season colour and structure
• Perfect for decorative pond displays
• Compact growth suitable for small ponds
• Excellent companion plant for waterlilies and creeping marginals
• Creates a soft natural appearance around water features

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Care Instructions

• Plant Star Grass in shallow water or consistently moist soil for best results. Position the plant in full sun or partial shade, although sunnier locations generally encourage the strongest flowering display.
• Maintain damp conditions throughout the growing season and avoid allowing the roots to dry out completely.
• After the foliage dies back in autumn, trim stems just above the water surface while leaving a small amount of growth to help protect emerging shoots over winter.
• In colder UK regions, additional winter protection may help preserve healthy growth during severe frosts.

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Flowering Period

July to November

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Size and Growing Conditions

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Dispatching Your Pond Plants

Your Star Grass 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

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 American Water Plantain (Alisma parviflorum) and Summer Snowflake (Gratiola officinalis).

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.