These sun-yellow flowers are my favourite plant in our tiny pond. No matter what the winter has been like, or whether it gets little sun, this plant always performs well, and it is always reassuring when these glorious, golden flowers open up in spring, inviting pollinators to visit out little patch.
The marsh marigold is a native, deciduous perennial and its bright flowers are visited by many different insects. The flowers, apparently, resemble goblets, giving them an alternative name of 'kingcup'. It is thought to have been growing in the UK since before the last ice age and currently has a stable population.
If you are thinking about digging a pond (a must for any garden!), I would strongly encourage including this plant in the margins. It spreads, but only to a manageable size, is reliable and requires little looking after; even so, it will reward you with beautiful flowers in spring.
References:
Thomas, A. (2017) Gardening for Wildlife, Bloomsbury Publishing PLC.
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/marsh-marigold accessed 05/04/2020
https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/discover-wild-plants-nature/plant-fungi-species/marsh-marigold accessed 05/04/2020
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