Yellow Water Snowflake (Nymphoides thunbergiana)

Yellow Water Snowflake Pond Plant (Nymphoides thunbergiana)

Delicate floating pond plant with bright yellow star shaped flowers that sit above the water surface and create beautiful natural coverage across the pond.

Yellow Water Snowflake (Nymphoides thunbergiana) is an elegant floating aquatic plant that produces an abundance of bright yellow flowers and attractive floating leaves. Often compared to small water lilies due to its round floating foliage, this plant adds colour, texture and movement to ponds throughout the summer months.

From early summer through to early autumn, Yellow Water Snowflake produces masses of vibrant yellow flowers that sit approximately 5 cm above the water surface. Each flower features delicate fringed edges covered in tiny hairs, giving the blooms a unique star like appearance. These distinctive flowers stand proudly above the floating leaves and create a stunning display across the pond when the plant is in full bloom.

The plant spreads naturally by producing small floating plantlets that gradually expand across the water surface. This creates gentle floating coverage that provides shade for the pond and shelter for fish, amphibians and aquatic insects. The natural shading also helps reduce sunlight penetration into the water, which can assist in slowing algae growth and maintaining a healthier pond environment.

Yellow Water Snowflake grows best in still water and is ideal for ponds where a soft floating layer of foliage is desired. It thrives in full sun but will also grow well in partial shade. For best results it should be planted away from splashing fountains or areas with strong water movement.

This plant is a fast grower and can spread across the pond surface during the growing season. In very shallow or marshy conditions it may spread more vigorously, although this is easily controlled by trimming back excess growth when required.

Plant Nymphoides thunbergiana in an aquatic basket using aquatic compost and gradually lower the basket into the pond so the leaves can grow up towards the surface. Once established, it requires very little maintenance and will return each year with fresh floating foliage and beautiful yellow flowers.

This plant is particularly well suited to wildlife ponds and natural pond planting schemes where its floating leaves provide shelter for aquatic life and help create a balanced pond ecosystem.

🇬🇧 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

• Attractive yellow flowers that sit above the water surface
• Unique star shaped blooms with delicate fringed edges
• Floating leaves provide natural shade for the pond
• Helps reduce sunlight penetration which can limit algae growth
• Provides shelter for fish, amphibians and aquatic insects
• Ideal for wildlife ponds and natural pond designs
• Fast growing plant that creates attractive floating coverage
• Easy to maintain and suitable for most garden ponds

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Reasons to Buy

• Beautiful summer flowering floating pond plant
• Creates natural surface coverage across the pond
• Helps support wildlife and aquatic biodiversity
• Perfect companion plant for water lilies and oxygenators
• Easy to grow and low maintenance once established

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Care Instructions

• Plant in an aquatic planting basket using aquatic compost
• Lower gradually into the pond so the leaves reach the surface
• Best positioned in still water away from fountains
• Grows well in full sun or partial shade
• Trim excess growth if the plant spreads too far across the pond
• Can grow more vigorously in shallow or marshy conditions

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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 Yellow Water Snowflake 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:

• 1 Litre Basket – usually 11 × 11 × 11cm square; some varieties may be supplied in a 14cm diameter × 10cm round basket
• 3 Litre Hexagonal Basket – 18 × 18 × 16cm
• 10 Litre Square Basket – 29 × 29 × 19cm

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

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 rooted deep-water choice, compare Fringed Water Lily (Nymphoides peltata) and Brandy Bottle (Nuphar lutea).

Explore more deep water 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.