Plant Profile: Marsilea mutica 'Variegata'

Names

Variegated Water Clover

  • Photo of Marsilea mutica 'Variegata' (Marsilea mutica 'Variegata's)

Phonetic Spelling:mar-SIL-ee-uh mu-tee-ka vair-ee-ah-GAY-ta

Genus:Marsilea

Species:mutica

Family:Marsileaceae

This plant features leaves that are reminiscent of a four-leaf clover, adorned with a striking red to brown arching stripe. It is an assertive aquatic species, known for its rapid spread through robust rhizomes, thriving in damp soil or shallow water, reaching depths of up to 3 feet. For optimal growth, position it in full sun or partial shade. It prefers consistently moist conditions, making it ideal for water gardens, ponds, or rain and cottage-style gardens. To control its expansion, consider planting it in a 1-gallon container.

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata' Feature Summary

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata' Image Gallery

Tags

#weedy
#clover leaves
#showy leaves
#cottage garden
#interesting leaves
#high maintenance
#water plant
#wet sites
#fast growing
#aggressive
#bog gardens
#container plants
#wet soils intolerant

Similar Plants

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata' Feature Summary

Attributes
North & Eastern Australia, New Caledonia
Naturalized in North America
Perennial
Flowers
Grown for foliage
Leaves
Leaves are shaped like a four-leaf clover and are greenish-yellow to brown patterned leaves which usually float on the water surface.
Green
Gold/Yellow
Brown/Copper
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
1-3 inches
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Frequent Standing Water
Less than 12 inches
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
High Organic Matter
Landscape
Rain Garden
Cottage Garden
Water Garden

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata' Attributes

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Country Or Region Of Origin

North & Eastern Australia, New Caledonia

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Distribution

Naturalized in North America

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata' Flowers

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Flower Description

Grown for foliage

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata' Leaves

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Leaf Description

Leaves are shaped like a four-leaf clover and are greenish-yellow to brown patterned leaves which usually float on the water surface.

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Leaf Color

spa
Brown/Copper
spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Green

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata' Whole Plant Traits

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata' Cultural Conditions

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
11a
thermostat
11b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata' Stem

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata' Landscape

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Marsilea mutica 'Variegata': Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy