Caltha palustris 'Plena'

Planting Caltha palustris ‘Plena’

Caltha palustris ‘Plena’, commonly known as double marsh marigold, is a moisture-loving perennial with rich, golden-yellow double flowers in spring. It is ideal for damp borders, pond edges, and bog gardens, bringing early-season colour to wet areas.

Choosing the right position

• Prefers full sun to partial shade
• Thrives in damp or wet conditions
• Ideal for pond margins, bog gardens, and damp borders
• Can be planted in shallow water or consistently moist soil
• Choose a position sheltered from strong winds

Soil requirements

• Prefers consistently moist to wet soil
• Thrives in fertile, humus-rich conditions
• Suitable for clay or heavy soils that retain moisture
• Can tolerate shallow standing water
• Does not tolerate dry soil

How to plant

• Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and similar depth
• Position the plant so the crown is level with the soil surface
• Backfill with enriched soil and firm gently
• Water thoroughly after planting
• Space plants around 30–40cm apart
• Apply a mulch to help retain moisture

Planting in water or containers

• Can be planted in aquatic baskets for pond use
• Use aquatic compost or heavy loam
• Place in shallow water up to 5–10cm deep
• For containers, use a moisture-retentive compost
• Keep containers consistently moist at all times

Ongoing Care and Maintenance

Caltha ‘Plena’ is easy to grow as long as moisture levels are maintained.

Watering

• Keep soil consistently wet or very moist
• Water regularly, especially in dry periods
• Container plants must not be allowed to dry out
• Ideal for naturally damp areas where watering is minimal
• Avoid dry conditions at all times

Feeding

• Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring
• Mulch annually with compost or well-rotted organic matter
• Helps maintain fertility in damp soils
• Plants generally perform well without heavy feeding

Pruning and tidying

• Remove spent flowers to tidy the plant
• Cut back foliage after flowering if it becomes untidy
• Allow leaves to die back naturally if preferred
• Remove any damaged or yellowing growth

Mulching

• Apply mulch in spring to retain moisture
• Helps improve soil structure and suppress weeds
• Keep mulch around, but not directly on, the crown

Seasonal Care and Common Issues

With proper conditions, Caltha palustris ‘Plena’ will provide reliable early colour each year.

Seasonal performance

• Produces bright double yellow flowers in early to mid-spring
• One of the earliest flowering pond and bog plants
• Lush green foliage provides contrast after flowering
• Excellent for naturalising in damp areas

Winter care

• Fully hardy and dies back in winter
• No special protection required
• Regrows strongly in spring
• Ensure soil remains moist but not frozen solid for long periods

Common problems

• Poor growth occurs in dry conditions
• Leaves may scorch if soil dries out
• Generally pest and disease resistant
• Slugs may occasionally damage young shoots
• Plants may go dormant early in very dry summers

Caltha palustris ‘Plena’ is a beautiful and reliable perennial for wet and boggy areas of the garden. Its cheerful double yellow flowers bring early seasonal interest, especially around ponds and damp borders. With consistent moisture and minimal care, it will thrive and return year after year.

Kindly be aware when mix/ mixed/ assorted/ varieties is mention you will receive ONLY ONE plant/ item, which will be selected for delivery, photos may show different varieties available - which may also vary 

 
We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

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All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via DPD Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

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Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

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