Native Azolla

Native Azolla is an easy-to-grow, small floating fern that spreads readily in a pond or water feature.

Noongar Name: Unknown

Scientific Name: Azolla filiculoides

Performance: Easy to grow

Size: Perennial for waterbodies

Flower: None

Flowering Time: None

Natural Distribution: Grows locally in the Perth region

: Azolla filiculoides (CC BY 4.0)Lorraine Phelan

: Azolla filiculoides (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) Terra Occ

Growing at a Glance

See Growing Guide for more detail

Position: Adaptable to sunny and light-shade positions

Watering: An aquatic plant that grows in standing water.

Feeding: Fertiliser not required.

Pruning: Easily reduced by scooping from ponds.

Growing Guide

Ideal Position

Native Azolla is versatile, enjoying a range of positions. Suitable for denser plantings and will perform well in full sun or light shade.

Native Azolla is a small, completely aquatic species of fern which floats on the surface of ponds.

When to Plant and Watering

Azolla can be planted at any time of year by adding leaves to the surface of a pond.

Native Azolla should be grouped with other aquatic plants.

Feeding and Soil Care

Native Azolla don’t need fertiliser because they are adapted to grow in our local soils, which are typically low in nutrients.
Plants will benefit from adding some vegetable-based compost (avoid those with manure) into the soil at planting.
As your garden develops, practice ‘cut and drop’ when you prune your plants. The leaf and branch material that falls to the ground slowly breaks down over time, releasing nutrients to help your garden to grow.

How to Prune

Native Azolla grows quickly and can overwhelm small ponds. It can easily be scooped out and placed on the ground as mulch.

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This provides habitat for Frogs

: Habitat for Frogs

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Native Azolla

Growing at a Glance

Growing Guide

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