Bog Pimpernel (Anagallis tenella) - Wildlife-Friendly Native Creeper for Shallow Edges & Bog Gardens (Peat-Free, Pesticide-Free)

A dainty UK-native for shallow, permanently moist edges, Anagallis tenella creeps to form a fine mat of tiny round leaves, studded in summer with soft pink, starry flowers. Perfect for stitching the pond collar, rock crevices and boggy margins without blocking sightlines. It offers safe cover for froglets and aquatic insects moving between water and land, and the open blooms are visited by small bees and hoverflies. Expect 2-5 cm in height and a spreading, rooting habit that slowly carpets damp ground when happy. Best in cool, evenly moist conditions; let it knit between stones and around basket rims for a natural, “wild” finish.

Where it thrives

• Light: Full sun to light/partial shade (avoid hot, drying sites)

• Moisture/Zone: Bog / pond collar; crown at water level or just 0-2 cm above/below it; also great in consistently damp soil just outside the liner

Planting & care

• Plant in peat-free aquatic compost (small basket or directly into damp soil) and top-dress with washed grit

• Keep evenly moist - do not allow to dry out; ideal for a capillary mat of damp gravel at the rim

• Clip lightly after flowering to tidy; peg down or place small stones to encourage rooting where you want coverage

• Divide by lifting rooted pieces in spring/summer and replanting where needed

Safety (important & honest):
Not grown for consumption; do not ingest. Wash hands after pond work. Keep plant material and soil out of natural watercourses; never release garden plants into the wild.

Truth-first wildlife note:
While the flowers are small, they’re accessible and the creeping habit creates micro-habitat and safe passage at the warm, shallow edge - vital for emerging amphibians and invertebrates.

Joel says…
“For that soft, natural pond rim, Bog Pimpernel is magic - low, pretty, and it stitches the edge so wildlife can move safely. Keep it evenly moist and let it wander.”

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are ordering perennials between the months of October and March, including aquatic plants, please be aware that this is the dormant phase for perennials, so your plants may arrive showing potentially little or no top growth at this stage, or can in some cases still have some old leaves from last year showing also. Please don't worry, as this is all quite normal. Once the weather warms up in spring, you will start to see fresh growth and activity! If you ever have any concerns at all, please just message the team on enquiries@wildyourgarden.com and we'll always do our best to help.